Healing From Concussion with CST

Concussions and Craniosacral Therapy (CST)
By Emily Klik, CST

What is a concussion?

A concussion is often described as a lingering headache following a blow to the head. Medically, it refers to a mild brain injury caused by a high-velocity impact or sudden acceleration to the skull. This could occur from a direct blow or even from rapid movement, such as the jarring forces felt on a rollercoaster. Inside the skull, the brain floats in a protective layer of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which serves as both a cushion and a vital support for brain function. When a sudden impact or acceleration causes the brain to move rapidly through this fluid, it can strike the inside of the skull, leading to an injury. The recovery from a concussion can range from a few weeks to several months, and in some cases, symptoms may persist, leading to a diagnosis of traumatic brain injury (TBI).

A common symptom of a concussion is a sensation of internal pressure, often felt as though a vice is tightly clamping down on the center of the skull. This discomfort is typically accompanied by other neurological symptoms.

What are neurological symptoms?

Neurological symptoms indicate an issue within the nervous system. When affecting the brain, some of the symptoms may include:

-Double vision or difficulty focusing the eyes

-Uncoordinated eye movements

-Eye fatigue or aching eyes

-Altered taste or smell

-Sudden dizziness or vertigo

-Cognitive changes

-Sensitivity to light and sound

And there can be more. These symptoms are indicative of disruption in specific cranial nerves or muscles and can often be addressed with craniosacral therapy.

How Craniosacral Therapy helps

Craniosacral therapy can assist by gently decompressing the cranial plates and releasing tension in the membranes surrounding the brain. This manual therapy helps alleviate pressure inside the skull, improves blood and cerebrospinal fluid circulation, and reduces brain fog and pain. Additionally, craniosacral therapy can help regulate vital functions such as digestion, heart rate, breathing, and even processes like sweating and salivation.

If a concussion has led to neck or back pain, this therapy can also help address the referred pain, often within the same session.

What to expect in a Craniosacral session

During your initial session, your therapist will inquire about the circumstances of the injury—whether it was caused by a direct impact or acceleration—to better understand the origin of the concussion. You'll also discuss any current symptoms to help the therapist identify which cranial nerves and plates may be affected, guiding the treatment plan.

How long before I feel better?

The duration of recovery varies greatly, depending on the severity of the injury and any complementary therapies being used in conjunction with craniosacral therapy. For more severe concussions, additional therapies such as occupational therapy, vision therapy, or vestibular rehabilitation may be recommended. Some people may see improvement within a few weeks, while for others, symptoms may persist for years. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question.

Why do symptoms last so long?

Many long-standing concussion symptoms are caused by compression of the cranial plates or injury to the internal membranes of the skull (the dura mater, arachnoid membrane, and pia mater). These structures can create pressure on the brain, hindering proper circulation of cerebrospinal fluid. In most cases, once the cranial plates become compressed, they can remain in that state until released through manual therapy. In my practice, I've worked with individuals who have experienced cranial compression for days, up to decades.

The good news is that even chronic symptoms can often be improved with craniosacral therapy. I recommend trying a series of 3-4 sessions to assess progress. Many clients report feeling noticeable improvements after just one or two sessions, and some find that they begin to feel better in other areas of their body as well.

In Conclusion

Craniosacral therapy offers a gentle yet powerful approach to healing after a concussion. Not only does it help with concussion symptoms, but many clients report feeling better overall—more balanced and at ease in their bodies.

If you have any questions or would like to explore how craniosacral therapy could help with your recovery, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Neck Pain, TMJ, and the Mighty Hyoid

Your Hyoid Bone: Small But Mighty

The hyoid bone is a small but crucial structure located in your throat, just below and behind your chin. Although it’s often overlooked, this U-shaped bone plays a surprisingly vital role in your body. Pronounced “high-oid” (with emphasis on the first syllable), your hyoid is unique because it doesn’t form a joint with any other bones, unlike all of the other bones in your body. In fact, it stands completely on its own, suspended by muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

So, what does this bone actually do? A lot. Your hyoid serves as a stabilizer for your mandible (jaw bone) and provides a base for the muscles of your tongue and throat, enabling you to speak, swallow, and move food around in your mouth. It also supports your larynx (voice box), thyroid cartilage, and esophagus. In essence, the hyoid is an unsung hero of many everyday functions—without it, speaking and swallowing would be nearly impossible.

The Hyoid’s Unique Structure and Function

What makes the hyoid particularly interesting is its independence. Unlike other bones in your body, it doesn’t directly connect to any other bone. Instead, it relies on a network of 14 pairs of muscles, with tendons and ligaments that connect it to your skull, spine, jaw, sternum, shoulder blades, larynx, and thyroid. This complex muscle network provides support, movement, and stabilization for the throat and neck.

These muscle groups can be broken down into three main categories:

Infra-hyoids: These muscles extend below the hyoid and support the larynx and thyroid.

Supra-hyoids: These muscles extend above the hyoid and form the base of your mouth and jaw, helping to support your tongue for speaking, swallowing, and chewing.

Retro-hyoids: These muscles attach behind the hyoid and extend to the sides and base of your skull, helping to stabilize the jaw.

With so many attachments, it's no wonder that imbalances in this muscle network can occur. If the hyoid becomes misaligned, it can lead to a variety of symptoms, including throat tension, difficulty swallowing, problems with chewing or speaking (such as frequently biting the inside of your cheek or needing to exert more effort to speak), voice changes without illness, neck pain, headaches, TMJ dysfunction, and even teeth clenching and grinding.

How Craniosacral Therapy Can Help

The good news is that craniosacral therapy can help address these misalignments and restore balance to the hyoid and its surrounding muscles. In my practice, I’ve found that most clients dealing with neck pain also have tension in one or more of the hyoid muscle groups. Utilizing specific and targeted craniosacral therapy techniques, we can release this tension and bring your body back into alignment.

If you’re struggling with neck tension—whether it feels like it’s coming from your neck or throat—I encourage you to try craniosacral therapy. Many clients report immediate relief at the end of the session, along with relaxation, stress regulation, and a sense of decompression. After a few sessions, clients typically report lasting relief from hyoid imbalance, leading to increased comfort and ease in the throat, neck, jaw, and skull. Other benefits include improved sinus function, clearer speech, improved resilience, and enhanced mental clarity.

With continued treatment and ongoing maintenance, most clients experience lasting improvements in their overall well-being, increased energy levels, improved balance, and improved integration. At MKE Mindbody Wellness, we can work together to release tension throughout your neck, particularly in the hyoid region, and help you feel more balanced, regulated, and at-ease in your body.

Wishing you continued wellness and health.

Emily Klik, LMT CST