How Traumatic Brain Injuries Affect Posture and Balance

How Traumatic Brain Injuries Affect Posture: From Subtle Balance Problems to Severe Rigidity and Chiropractic Solutions

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) happen when a sudden hit or jolt damages the brain. These injuries can change how a person stands, walks, or holds their body. Some changes are small and last a long time, like trouble staying balanced. Other changes are significant and alarming, such as stiff, unnatural body positions that require immediate attention. This article explains how TBIs affect posture. It also addresses spinal misalignments in the neck and upper back that exacerbate symptoms. Ultimately, it demonstrates how chiropractic care can address these issues.

What Is Posture, and Why Does It Matter?

Posture means the way the body holds itself while standing, sitting, or moving. Good posture keeps the spine straight and lets the body move without pain. The brain controls posture by using information from the eyes, inner ears, and muscles. When a TBI hurts these parts, posture suffers.

Balance is a crucial component of good posture. It helps a person stay upright and prevents them from falling. After a TBI, even a mild one, balance can become weak. Studies show that people with TBI often have trouble sitting or standing steady (Brain Injury Association of America, n.d.).

Mild TBIs and Long-Term Balance Issues

A mild TBI, often called a concussion, may seem small at first. But it can cause lasting problems with postural control. Postural control refers to the ability to maintain body stability during movement or rest.

Damage to the vestibular system plays a big role. The vestibular system, located in the inner ear, informs the brain about head position and motion. When it suffers damage, dizziness and poor balance ensue. Visual problems can also happen. The brain may not accurately process what the eyes see. Sensory issues in the feet or legs make it difficult to feel the ground.

One study examined factors associated with sitting and standing balance following TBI. It found that muscle strength, sensation, and brain processing all matter (Brain Injury Association of America, n.d.). Another review noted that balance issues are common even years after injury (Gagnon et al., 2010).

These subtle changes affect daily life. A person might sway while standing in line or feel unsteady on stairs. Over time, incorrect posture can lead to muscle strain and pain.

Severe TBIs and Abnormal Posturing

In severe cases, TBIs cause extreme rigidity called abnormal posturing. This is not normal stiffness. It is a sign of deep brain damage and needs emergency care.

There are two main types:

• Decorticate posturing: The arms bend toward the body, fists clench, and legs straighten and turn inward. It happens when damage is above the brainstem but below the cortex (Cleveland Clinic, 2023; Mount Sinai, n.d.a).
• Decerebrate posturing: The arms and legs extend straight out, toes point down, and the neck arches back. This shows damage lower in the brainstem. This condition is considered more serious (UF Health, n.d.; Mount Sinai, n.d.b).

Both types mean the brain cannot control muscles normally. The person may not wake up even when someone tries to rouse them. Seek medical help immediately if this occurs (Cleveland Clinic, 2023).

Abnormal posturing comes from swelling, bleeding, or pressure inside the skull. It blocks signals between the brain and body.

Spinal Misalignments After TBI

TBIs often come with neck and upper back injuries. A severe hit can cause the head to whip forward and back. This movement misaligns the spine, especially in the cervical (neck) area.

Misaligned vertebrae pinch nerves and change blood flow. Poor alignment exacerbates TBI symptoms, including headaches, dizziness, and impaired cognitive function. One article explains that concussions lead to neck pain and stiffness, which feed into brain issues (ThinkVida, n.d.).

Upper back misalignments affect the thoracic spine. They pull the shoulders forward and round the back. This posture strains the entire body, making balance more challenging.

Dr. Alexander Jimenez, a chiropractor with advanced training in nursing and neurology, frequently observes this phenomenon in his clinic. He notes that spinal misalignments after TBI disrupt nervous system signals. Correcting them helps the brain heal (Jimenez, n.d.; Jimenez, LinkedIn profile).

How Chiropractic Care Helps Posture After TBI

Chiropractic care focuses on the spine and nervous system. It can play a key role in TBI recovery.

Spinal Adjustments

Chiropractors use gentle adjustments to correct misalignments. In the neck and upper back, this relieves pressure on nerves. Better nerve function means clearer signals to the brain.

Adjustments may also improve blood flow and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) movement. CSF cushions the brain and removes waste. Smoother flow can reduce swelling and support healing (Northwest Florida Physicians Group, n.d.a).

One source says chiropractic care helps mild TBIs by realigning the spine and easing concussion symptoms (Impact Medical Group, 2024).

Sensory and Movement Therapies

Chiropractic care goes beyond adjustments. Many doctors add therapies to retrain the brain.

• Vestibular therapy: Exercises that challenge balance and eye tracking.
• Proprioceptive training: Activities to improve body awareness.
• Coordination drills: Simple movements to rebuild brain-body links.

These help re-establish postural control. A functional care clinic describes how sensory and movement therapies support brain healing after injury (HML Functional Care, n.d.).

Pain Relief and Better Circulation

TBIs often leave ongoing pain in the neck, back, or head. Adjustments lower pain by reducing inflammation and muscle tension. Improved circulation brings oxygen and nutrients to damaged areas (Northwest Florida Physicians Group, n.d.b).

A review of TBI costs mentions that musculoskeletal pain adds to the burden. Chiropractic care can help alleviate this pain without the need for medication (Finkelstein et al., 2018).

Lifestyle Support

Chiropractors advise patients on the importance of getting enough sleep, maintaining a balanced diet, and practicing effective stress management. Effective habits accelerate recovery and maintain proper posture. For example, better sleep regulates brain chemicals that control clarity and movement (Pinnacle Health Chiropractic, n.d.).

Dr. Jimenez stresses a whole-body approach. He combines adjustments with rehab exercises for TBI patients. His methods aim to restore function and prevent long-term problems (Jimenez, n.d.).

Real-Life Effects and Recovery Steps

Imagine a car crash survivor. Initially, the patient experiences a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) accompanied by dizziness. Months later, they notice slouched shoulders and a tendency to fall frequently. A chiropractor finds neck misalignments and starts adjustments. Balance exercises follow. Over weeks, posture improves, headaches fade, and confidence returns.

In severe cases, abnormal posturing needs hospital care first. Once stable, chiropractic care can address leftover stiffness and spinal issues.

Recovery takes time. Mild cases may improve in months. Severe ones need years. Teamwork between doctors, therapists, and chiropractors gives the best results.

When to Seek Help

See a doctor right away if you have:

• Stiff, rigid limbs that won’t relax.
• Loss of consciousness after a head hit.
• Worsening balance or new pain.

For ongoing issues, seek a chiropractor trained in TBI care. Ask about their experience with neck adjustments and brain rehab.

Conclusion

TBIs change posture in many ways. Mild injuries can cause subtle balance loss due to damage to sensory, visual, or vestibular systems. Severe injuries lead to decorticate or decerebrate posturing—an emergency sign of brain distress. Spinal misalignments in the neck and upper back exacerbate the condition by compressing nerves and restricting blood flow.

Chiropractic integrative care offers hope. Spinal adjustments correct alignment and boost nervous system function. They may enhance blood and CSF flow. Added sensory and movement therapies to retrain the brain for better coordination. Experts, such as Dr. Alexander Jimenez, demonstrate that this approach alleviates pain, enhances posture, and promotes healing.

If you or a loved one faces TBI challenges, consider exploring chiropractic options in conjunction with medical care. Small steps today can lead to a steady posture tomorrow.

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References

Brain Injury Association of America. (n.d.). Factors associated with sitting and standing balance. https://biausa.org/professionals/research/tbi-model-systems/factors-associated-with-sitting-and-standing-balance

Brain Injury Canada. (n.d.). Mobility. https://braininjurycanada.ca/en/effects-brain-injury/physical/mobility/

Cleveland Clinic. (2023). Decorticate posturing. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/24969-decorticate-posturing

Finkelstein, E. A., Corso, P. S., & Miller, T. R. (2018). The incidence and economic burden of injuries in the United States. PMC. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5937508/

Flint Rehab. (n.d.). Posturing after brain injury. https://www.flintrehab.com/posturing-brain-injury/

Gagnon, I., Forget, R., & McEwen, D. (2010). Balance and mobility in individuals with traumatic brain injury. PMC. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3017494/

HML Functional Care. (n.d.). How chiropractic neurology supports brain healing. https://hmlfunctionalcare.com/how-chiropractic-neurology-supports-brain-healing/

Impact Medical Group. (2024). Can chiropractic care help with mild traumatic brain injuries? https://www.impactmedicalgroup.com/2024/06/26/can-chiropractic-care-help-with-mild-traumatic-brain-injuries/

Jimenez, A. (n.d.). Dr. Alexander Jimenez. https://dralexjimenez.com/

Jimenez, A. (n.d.). LinkedIn profile. https://www.linkedin.com/in/dralexjimenez/

Mount Sinai. (n.d.a). Decorticate posture. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/symptoms/decorticate-posture

Mount Sinai. (n.d.b). Decerebrate posture. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/symptoms/decerebrate-posture

Northwest Florida Physicians Group. (n.d.a). Using chiropractic care to treat traumatic brain injuries. https://northwestfloridaphysiciansgroup.com/using-chiropractic-care-to-treat-traumatic-brain-injuries/

Northwest Florida Physicians Group. (n.d.b). Using chiropractic care to treat traumatic brain injuries. https://www.northwestfloridaphysiciansgroup.com/using-chiropractic-care-to-treat-traumatic-brain-injuries

Pinnacle Health Chiropractic. (n.d.). Six ways chiropractic care supports healing after TBI. https://www.pinnaclehealthchiro.com/blog/six-ways-chiropractic-care-supports-healing-after-tbi

ThinkVida. (n.d.). Treating concussions with chiropractic care. https://thinkvida.com/blog/treating-concussions-with-chiropractic-care/

UF Health. (n.d.). Decerebrate posture. https://ufhealth.org/conditions-and-treatments/decerebrate-posture