Rewiring the Brain: Bouncing Back from Concussions

The brain is often described as "plastic"—meaning it’s always changing and adapting. In neuroscience, this ability to change is called neuroplasticity. A concussion can interrupt the brain’s normal communication pathways in ways we still don’t fully understand.

When different parts of the brain work together regularly, their connections grow stronger. But when some areas aren’t used, they start to weaken. Other parts of the brain may step in to take over, leading to new and often less efficient processes.

After a concussion, your sense of body position—known as proprioception—is often affected. This can be caused by changes in the brain, but more commonly, it's linked to neck injuries. When the brain receives less proprioceptive input from the neck, it compensates by relying more on vision and the vestibular (balance) information. Over time, the areas of the brain responsible for proprioception can shrink, especially after injuries like whiplash.

Put simply: if a part of the brain isn’t used, it starts to fade. And when that happens, other systems take over that space.

The good news? The brain can adapt. With the right rehabilitation, even after a concussion, these changes can be reversed and improved.

Effective concussion recovery starts by identifying what’s not working and directly addressing it. Treatment should go beyond basic exercises and include more complex, coordinated movements. The goal is to rebuild not just strength and balance, but also skill and control.