How Football Impacts Can Affect the Brain—And How Chiropractic Can Help

If you’ve ever had chronic headaches, neck pain, or unexplained brain fog, your past might hold a clue—especially if you played contact sports like football. I’ve treated many patients over the years who, when asked about their medical history, mentioned they played football in their younger years. Often, they didn’t connect their current symptoms to old hits on the field, but the link is stronger than most realize.

The upper cervical spine—the top of the neck where the skull meets the first vertebra (atlas)—plays a critical role in protecting the brainstem and ensuring proper neurological function. Impacts to the head, like those from football tackles or even repeated minor collisions, can compress the cerebellum (the lower part of the brain) into the atlas. This “smooshing,” for lack of a better word, can disrupt normal brain function, leading to symptoms such as:

Jim McMahon, the former Chicago Bears quarterback, is a well-known example. He struggled with severe headaches and neurological symptoms until an upper cervical adjustment relieved the pressure. He described it as feeling like a cork being pulled from an upside-down wine bottle—immediate, noticeable relief.

When I adjust the cervical spine, I’m not just relieving neck pain—I’m restoring proper function to a crucial intersection of the nervous system. Many of my patients report:

✔️ Fewer headaches

✔️ Improved balance

✔️ Sharper mental clarity

✔️ Relief from chronic neck pain

Chiropractic isn’t just about cracking joints; it’s about realigning the body so it can heal itself from the inside out. If you’ve played football—or any sport involving head impacts—and you’re dealing with lingering symptoms, your upper cervical alignment might be the missing piece. It’s never too late to get checked out, no matter how long ago you played!

Want to see if chiropractic can help you? Schedule a consultation today.