Treating Concussion Beyond the Adjustment in a Chiropractic Practice

Concussion has been a common topic in the media for the last few years and continues to present challenges to physicians, patients and patient athletes. In the chiropractic office, we can treat the concussed patient and include nutrition and supplement recommendations. There is also a wide variety of testing to evaluate damage to the immune system and neurological system, which can be treated successfully with the right information. With a disruption of the blood brain barrier, infection is extremely common. With inflammation, the stress of the injury or the stress prior to the injury can also affect outcomes and the duration of symptoms. Looking at how the adrenals, gut function, neurotransmitters, basic nutrition and deficiencies can aid the chiropractic physician in instituting care beyond, yet including, musculoskeletal treatment in their office. Simple recommendations can be implemented immediately after the history physical and diagnosis is rendered.

Learning Objectives:

Attendees will be able to recognize methods for more well rounded approach to a concussed patient.
They will have identify a greater number and variety of treatment considerations, especially if a patient does not get complete resolution of symptoms quickly.
Since prevention may not always be practical, attendees will also be able to identify ways to keep patients healthier to decrease symptoms of first-time or sequential concussions.

Please note: This is a recording of a 2021 Engage conference session. Licensed Doctors of Chiropractic should not reuse this credit for licensure renewal if earned during the conference.

The following states require the participant to enter the course approval number on their certificate:

California: View the list of course approval numbers and categories for California approved courses.
Missouri: View the list of course approval numbers and categories for Missouri approved courses.

Cindy M. Howard

DC

Board Certified Chiropractic Internist

Dr. Cindy M. Howard is a Board-Certified Chiropractic Internist and Nutritionist in private

practice and the owner of Innovative Health & Wellness Center in Orland Park, Illinois and also
holds a license in the state of Florida. She speaks nationally, presenting on topics including
Pre- and Post-Concussion Nutrition, Neuroadrenal Dysfunction and Infection in sport, Male and
Female Pelvic Disorders, Pediatrics, Immunology, GI Disorders, Endocrinology, Nutritional
Blood Analysis Interpretation and Genetics.

She is also the owner of DC consulting; assisting private practices improve their
communication skills and improving patient adherence while building a better functional
medicine and nutritional practice.
She is the co-founder of Advanced Education; an entity that runs CE programs for the Internal
medicine diplomate.

For the last 8 years she has served as the Illinois delegate for the American Chiropractic
Association and as the alternate for 6 years prior to that. She has served on the membership,
professional development, clinical guidelines, bylaws and grievance committees. She was
the recipient of the Flynn/Lynch award in 2015 for outstanding service.
She is a past president of the ACA Council on Diagnosis and Internal Disorders and currently
serves as the Vice President of the College of Pharmacology and Toxicology. She also serves
on the medical advisory board for the Functional Medicine University, serves as a board
member for Before the Hit and Djor Intelligence Guards. Dr. Howard is an associate editor of
The Original Internist and a regular contributor for the Illinois Chiropractic Society online
newsletter.

In 2020 Dr. Cindy Howard was award the Chiropractor of the Year from the Illinois Chiropractic
Society.

Locally Dr. Howard serves as a board member for the Frankfort Falcons Youth football
organization, the concussion oversight team for the local school district and is the team
chiropractor for the Natural Wrestling Club.