Concussion Symptoms After a Car Accident in Cranston RI | Cityside Chiropractic
- Mark Mulak DC DACBSP DACRB DAIPM RMSK ICSC

- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
Concussion Symptoms After a Car Accident in Cranston RI
Cranston car accident patients frequently arrive at Cityside Chiropractic reporting headaches, dizziness, brain fog, and light sensitivity — symptoms they are attributing to stress or neck tension rather than recognizing as possible post-concussion involvement. The assumption that concussion requires a direct blow to the head or loss of consciousness is one of the most consequential misconceptions in car accident medicine.

You do not need to hit your head to sustain a concussion. You do not need to lose consciousness.
How Car Accidents Cause Concussion Without Head Contact
During a rear-end collision on Reservoir Avenue, Route 2, or I-95 through Cranston, the rapid acceleration-deceleration forces imposed on the head and neck are transmitted to the brain within the skull — producing functional neurological changes even when the head never contacts any surface. The brain moves within the cerebrospinal fluid during the impact, and that movement can produce the physiological disruption that characterizes a concussion.
Symptoms to Watch For After a Cranston Car Accident
Post-concussion symptoms may appear immediately or develop over 24 to 72 hours:
Headache — particularly at the base of the skull or behind the eyes
Dizziness or balance problems — worsened by head movement or busy visual environments
Brain fog — difficulty concentrating, slowed thinking, word-finding difficulty
Fatigue disproportionate to activity level
Light sensitivity or noise sensitivity
Sleep disturbances — difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
Irritability or emotional changes
Visual discomfort — difficulty with screen use, reading, or driving
Objective Post-Concussion Screening at Cityside Chiropractic Cranston
At Cityside Chiropractic's Cranston office, post-concussion objective screening includes:
RightEye — computerized oculomotor assessment measuring smooth pursuit, saccadic function, fixation stability, and visual reaction time against age-matched normative databases. Results are expressed as percentile scores compared to age-matched peers.
BTrackS — force plate balance assessment quantifying vestibular dysfunction with a standardized score compared to normative values. Converts the subjective complaint of dizziness into a measured, documented clinical finding.
CNS Vital Signs — cognitive screening measuring processing speed, working memory, and attention against normative benchmarks.
These three tools together provide the objective post-concussion documentation that standard neurological examination and CT imaging cannot produce — giving your treating providers and your Cranston personal injury attorney measurable clinical data.
Call (401) 272-5710 for same-day evaluation at 900 Reservoir Avenue Cranston.
No referral required. Lien basis — no out-of-pocket cost for personal injury patients.




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