Abstract
A concussion, whiplash injury, or other head and neck trauma can affect much more than the painful area. The injury may disturb communication between the brain, digestive system, immune system, autonomic nervous system, and cervical spine. This wider network can be understood through the gut-brain-spine connection. Nutrition, adequate protein, hydration, sleep, metabolic health, rehabilitation, and appropriate chiropractic care may help create a better environment for recovery. Selected patients may also benefit from advanced treatments such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP), laser therapy, shockwave therapy, or other medical interventions for specific musculoskeletal injuries. The goal is not to rely on one treatment. It is to combine neurological care, structural rehabilitation, functional medicine, nutrition, and medical oversight into a coordinated recovery plan.
What Is the Gut-Brain-Spine Connection?
The gut-brain axis is a real two-way communication system between the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system. The brain sends signals to the digestive system, while the gut sends information back to the brain.
This communication involves:
The vagus nerve
The autonomic nervous system
The enteric nervous system inside the digestive tract
Hormones
Immune signals
The intestinal barrier
The gut microbiome
Microbial metabolites
Neurotransmitters and other chemical messengers
The Cleveland Clinic explains that the gut and brain constantly communicate through nerves, hormones, immune pathways, and the microbiome (Cleveland Clinic, 2023). Research also shows that the intestinal barrier and gut microbes can influence immune, metabolic, and neurological function (Gwak & Chang, 2021).
The term Gut-Brain-Spine Connection expands this idea. It is best understood as an integrative clinical model rather than a separate anatomical system. The cervical spine contains joints, muscles, ligaments, discs, and nerves that influence movement, pain, balance, posture, and sensory input to the brain.
Because of this connection, a patient with whiplash and concussion may have problems in several areas at the same time.
What Happens After a Head or Neck Injury?
During a motor vehicle accident, sports collision, fall, or other traumatic event, the head may suddenly accelerate and decelerate.
The result can include:
Concussion or mild traumatic brain injury
Whiplash-associated disorder
Cervical muscle strain
Ligament injury
Facet joint irritation
Disc injury
Headaches
Dizziness
Balance problems
Sleep disturbances
Brain fog
Fatigue
Nausea
Changes in appetite
Neck stiffness
Increased sensitivity to light or noise
A concussion also produces a temporary disturbance in brain metabolism. The injured brain may have increased energy demands while its normal energy-producing processes are temporarily disrupted. This is one reason adequate calories, protein, hydration, and micronutrients are important during recovery.
A systematic review by Finnegan et al. (2022) found promising evidence for nutritional support after mild traumatic brain injury, including adequate calorie and protein intake and possible roles for omega-3 fatty acids and several micronutrients. However, the authors emphasized that the evidence is still too limited to create one universal supplement protocol for every concussion patient.
A Brain Injury Can Also Affect the Gut
The connection can work in the opposite direction.
A traumatic brain injury may influence the autonomic nervous system, immune system, intestinal movement, intestinal barrier, and gut microbiome.
Research suggests that TBI may contribute to:
Altered gut movement
Changes in intestinal permeability
Changes in immune activity
Systemic inflammation
Changes in the microbiome
Altered microbial metabolites
An important caution is that much of this research is still developing.
For mild traumatic brain injury specifically, Aghakhani (2022) found that animal studies clearly showed changes in the microbiome after injury, but human research was still too limited to prove that changing the microbiome improves neurological recovery after concussion. More recent research continues to study this relationship (Yu et al., 2024).
In other words, supporting gut health makes biological sense, but probiotics or special microbiome treatments should not be presented as established cures for concussion.
Protein-Forward Nutrition Helps Supply the Building Materials for Recovery
One of the most practical parts of a functional recovery program is making sure the patient is eating enough protein.
Protein provides amino acids used to maintain and rebuild:
Muscle
Connective tissue
Enzymes
Hormones
Neurotransmitter systems
Immune proteins
Structural tissues involved in healing
After whiplash, patients may also become less active because movement hurts. Without adequate protein and rehabilitation, muscle loss may occur more quickly.
A protein-forward meal may include:
Eggs
Chicken
Turkey
Fish
Lean beef
Greek yogurt or cottage cheese when tolerated
Beans and lentils
Tofu or tempeh
Protein shakes when whole-food intake is difficult
Spread protein throughout the day rather than saving it for one very large evening meal.
Exact protein needs depend on body size, kidney function, activity level, age, medical conditions, and injury severity. A nurse practitioner, physician, or qualified nutrition professional can help personalize the amount.
Build an Anti-Inflammatory Recovery Plate
Nutrition after head and neck injury should not revolve around one supplement.
Start with food.
A practical recovery plate can include:
Protein: chicken, fish, eggs, lean beef, beans, or another quality source
Vegetables: leafy greens, broccoli, peppers, carrots, squash
Healthy fats: olive oil, avocado, nuts, seeds
Fruit: berries, apples, oranges, kiwi, grapes
High-fiber carbohydrates: oats, beans, brown rice, potatoes, quinoa
Fluids: water and appropriate electrolyte replacement when needed
Highly processed foods should not have to disappear forever, but a recovery diet should emphasize nutrient-dense foods more often.
Omega-3-rich foods can be particularly useful. Examples include salmon, sardines, trout, walnuts, chia seeds, and flaxseed.
What About Supplements for Concussion Recovery?
Supplements can be considered when there is a nutritional need, but more is not always better.
Nutrients commonly studied in concussion and neurological recovery include:
Omega-3 fatty acids, including DHA and EPA
Magnesium
Vitamin D
Zinc
Creatine
B vitamins
Antioxidant nutrients
Omega-3 fatty acids have received particular research attention because DHA is an important structural component of brain tissue. The 2022 systematic review by Finnegan et al. found encouraging findings but concluded that stronger human trials are still needed before specific post-concussion dosing recommendations can be made for everyone (Finnegan et al., 2022).
Supplements should therefore be individualized.
This is especially important when a patient takes anticoagulants, has kidney or liver disease, uses several medications, has gastrointestinal disease, or is preparing for an injection or procedure.
Gut Health Is Also About Fiber and Food Diversity
Supporting the gut microbiome does not require an extreme diet.
A healthy intestinal environment is often supported by eating a wide variety of plant foods that provide different fibers and phytochemicals.
Useful foods include:
Vegetables
Fruits
Beans
Lentils
Oats
Nuts
Seeds
Whole grains
Fermented foods when tolerated
Gut bacteria can metabolize certain fibers into short-chain fatty acids and other compounds that participate in immune and metabolic signaling.
The gut-brain relationship involves neural, immune, metabolic, and endocrine pathways, which is why functional medicine often examines digestive health alongside sleep, stress, nutrition, and metabolic health (Gwak & Chang, 2021).
Sleep May Be as Important as the Food Plan
A perfect diet cannot compensate for severe sleep loss.
Sleep supports:
Brain recovery
Memory
Hormone regulation
Immune function
Muscle repair
Pain control
Appetite regulation
After a concussion, sleep can become disrupted. Some patients sleep too much, while others struggle to sleep.
A recovery program may therefore include:
Consistent sleep and wake times
Lower evening light exposure
Limiting late caffeine
Avoiding excessive alcohol
Appropriate daytime activity
Gradual return to normal routines
Patients should follow medical advice regarding return to work, driving, exercise, school, and sports.
Where Integrative Chiropractic Care Fits
Head and neck injuries often have both neurological and musculoskeletal components.
A concussion involves the brain. Whiplash can involve the muscles, joints, ligaments, discs, and nerves of the cervical spine.
Chiropractic care does not replace the medical evaluation or treatment of a concussion.
Instead, appropriate chiropractic and rehabilitative care may help address musculoskeletal problems that exist at the same time, such as:
Restricted neck motion
Muscle guarding
Cervical joint dysfunction
Postural changes
Shoulder and upper-back compensation
Mechanical neck pain
Reduced movement tolerance
After significant trauma, fracture, instability, vascular injury, or other serious conditions must be excluded before cervical manual treatment is considered.
Treatment can then be matched to the patient's condition and may include gentle manual care, mobility work, corrective exercise, stabilization, soft-tissue treatment, posture training, and progressive rehabilitation.
The goal is not simply to "adjust the spine." The goal is to restore safe movement and function.
Advanced Regenerative and Interventional Options
Some head and neck injury patients continue to experience pain even after conservative treatment.
When testing identifies a specific injured structure, advanced treatment may be considered.
Platelet-Rich Plasma for Chronic Whiplash
Platelet-rich plasma uses a patient's own concentrated platelets and associated signaling proteins.
PRP is being investigated for cervical facet joint pain and other musculoskeletal injuries.
In a prospective case series involving patients with chronic whiplash-associated disorders and confirmed cervical facet pain, Smith et al. (2023) reported improvements in pain and disability after cervical facet PRP, sometimes combined with rehabilitation. However, this was not a large randomized controlled trial, so the results should be considered promising rather than definitive.
Other platelet or orthobiologic approaches, including platelet-fibrin products and microfragmented adipose tissue, are also used in selected musculoskeletal settings. Their evidence varies by condition, and evidence specifically for concussion or routine acute whiplash remains limited.
These therapies should not be presented as treatments for the brain injury itself.
Laser Therapy for Neck Pain
High-intensity and low-level laser therapies are also used as rehabilitation tools.
A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis found that high-intensity laser therapy added to rehabilitation could reduce neck pain and disability and improve cervical extension, although the certainty of some findings was limited by differences between studies (de la Barra Ortiz et al., 2024).
A 2025 network meta-analysis involving 34 randomized trials also found evidence supporting several physical modalities for neck-pain rehabilitation, including high-intensity laser and extracorporeal shockwave therapy (Hao et al., 2025).
These approaches may therefore help certain neck injuries as part of rehabilitation.
They should not be confused with transcranial photobiomodulation aimed directly at concussion.
In fact, a randomized placebo-controlled trial involving patients with persistent concussion symptoms did not find significant benefit from transcranial photobiomodulation compared with placebo after adjustment for relevant factors (Taylor et al., 2024).
That distinction is important.
Why Combining Treatments Can Make Sense
An injection cannot correct poor movement.
An adjustment cannot replace missing nutrients.
A supplement cannot stabilize an injured cervical joint.
Laser therapy cannot replace neurological evaluation.
Rehabilitation cannot correct an untreated vitamin deficiency.
This is why a multidisciplinary approach can be useful.
A coordinated program may address:
Biology
Nutrition
Protein
Hydration
Metabolic health
Micronutrient deficiencies
Inflammation
Structure
Cervical joints
Muscles
Ligaments
Discs
Facet joints
Neurology
Concussion symptoms
Headaches
Balance
Vision
Cognitive function
Autonomic symptoms
Function
Strength
Mobility
Coordination
Posture
Endurance
Return to work or activity
The Injury Medical Clinic PA Multidisciplinary Model in El Paso
At Injury Medical Clinic PA in El Paso, Texas, Dr. Alexander Jimenez, DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CCST, CFMP, IFMCP, ATN, describes a multidisciplinary model combining chiropractic care, functional medicine, personal injury care, rehabilitation, nutritional strategies, and medical collaboration.
His published clinical observations emphasize looking beyond the painful structure alone. Movement, inflammation, nutrition, metabolic health, strength, neurological findings, and the patient's ability to return to normal function may all be considered when developing a recovery plan. His professional profile also identifies his work with Injury Medical Clinic PA and his focus on integrative injury care (Jimenez, 2026).
Clinic materials identify Dr. Maria Guadalupe Cardenas, MD, as board-certified in internal medicine, with more than 40 years of experience as an internist. They list her as medical director and collaborative physician for the practice, with NPI #1164426749 and Texas MD license #J2933. The American Medical Association also identifies Dr. Cardenas as an internal medicine physician practicing in El Paso.
In this model:
Dr. Jimenez focuses on appropriate chiropractic care, neuromusculoskeletal evaluation, functional medicine, rehabilitation, personal injury management, and whole-person recovery.
Dr. Cardenas provides internal medicine expertise and medical oversight.
Medical evaluation can be coordinated with imaging, laboratory testing, medications, specialists, rehabilitation, or interventional services when clinically necessary.
Nutrition and lifestyle strategies can be integrated with structural rehabilitation rather than treated as separate issues.
This multidisciplinary structure is used in integrative and injury-care settings, where different licensed clinicians contribute within their professional scope.
Root-Cause Recovery Means Asking More Questions
Functional medicine adds another layer to injury recovery by asking why a patient may not be recovering normally.
Possible contributors can include:
Poor protein intake
Vitamin or mineral deficiencies
Poor sleep
High blood glucose
Insulin resistance
Dehydration
Gastrointestinal problems
Medication effects
Physical inactivity
Persistent inflammation
Chronic stress
Loss of muscle strength
Addressing these factors does not replace treatment of the actual injury.
It helps improve the environment in which healing takes place.
Know the Concussion Warning Signs
Nutrition, chiropractic care, supplements, and regenerative medicine should never delay emergency evaluation after a serious head injury.
According to the CDC, emergency care is needed after head trauma when someone develops symptoms such as:
A worsening headache
Repeated vomiting
Seizures
Increasing confusion
Slurred speech
Weakness or numbness
Poor coordination
Inability to wake or stay awake
One pupil becoming larger than the other
Double vision
These symptoms can signal a more serious brain injury and require immediate medical attention.
The Bigger Picture: Feed the Brain, Restore the Neck, Support the Gut
The Gut-Brain-Spine Connection gives patients and healthcare professionals a useful framework for thinking about head and neck injury recovery.
The brain needs energy and nutrients.
The gut helps absorb those nutrients and participates in immune and metabolic signaling.
The cervical spine must regain movement, strength, and stability.
The nervous system needs appropriate activity, sleep, and time to recover.
For the right patient, advanced procedures may help treat a clearly identified musculoskeletal pain generator. But the strongest recovery strategy is usually not a single treatment.
It is a coordinated plan that combines:
Accurate diagnosis
Medical safety screening
Protein-forward nutrition
Anti-inflammatory whole foods
Individualized supplementation
Gut-supportive nutrition
Sleep
Hydration
Metabolic health
Integrative chiropractic care
Progressive rehabilitation
Medical oversight
Selected regenerative or interventional care when appropriate
This approach treats recovery as a whole-body process rather than simply chasing pain.
References
Aghakhani, N. (2022). Relationship between mild traumatic brain injury and the gut microbiome: A scoping review. Journal of Neuroscience Research, 100(3), 827–834. Relationship between mild traumatic brain injury and the gut microbiome
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025). Symptoms of mild TBI and concussion. Symptoms of Mild TBI and Concussion
Cleveland Clinic. (2023). The gut-brain connection. The Gut-Brain Connection
de la Barra Ortiz, H. A., Arias, M., & Liebano, R. E. (2024). A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on the effectiveness of high-intensity laser therapy in the management of neck pain. Lasers in Medical Science, 39(1), 124. High-intensity laser therapy in the management of neck pain
Finnegan, E., Daly, E., Pearce, A. J., & Ryan, L. (2022). Nutritional interventions to support acute mTBI recovery. Frontiers in Nutrition, 9, 977728. Nutritional interventions to support acute mTBI recovery
Gwak, M.-G., & Chang, S.-Y. (2021). Gut-brain connection: Microbiome, gut barrier, and environmental sensors. Immune Network, 21(3), e20. Gut-Brain Connection: Microbiome, Gut Barrier, and Environmental Sensors
Hao, J., He, Z., Huang, B., Li, Y., Remis, A., Yao, Z., Tang, Y., Sun, Y., & Wu, K. (2025). Comparative effectiveness of six biophysical agents on neck pain rehabilitation: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. European Spine Journal, 34(6), 2183–2200. Comparative effectiveness of six biophysical agents on neck pain rehabilitation
Jimenez, A. (2026). Regenerative chiropractic care for musculoskeletal pain relief. Regenerative Chiropractic Care for Musculoskeletal Pain Relief
Jimenez, A. (n.d.). Dr. Alexander Jimenez DC, APRN, FNP-BC, IFMCP, CFMP, ATN — Professional profile. LinkedIn. Dr. Alexander Jimenez on LinkedIn
Smith, A., Andruski, B., Deng, G., & Burnham, R. (2023). Cervical facet joint platelet-rich plasma in people with chronic whiplash-associated disorders: A prospective case series of longer term 6- and 12-month outcomes. Interventional Pain Medicine, 2(1), 100237. Cervical facet joint platelet-rich plasma in chronic whiplash-associated disorders
Taylor, A. M., Mannix, R., Zafonte, R. D., Whalen, M. J., & Meehan, W. P., III. (2024). A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluating transcranial photobiomodulation as treatment for concussion. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 56(5), 822–827. Transcranial photobiomodulation as treatment for concussion
Yu, J., Chen, Y.-X., Wang, J.-W., & Wu, H.-T. (2024). Research progress on the relationship between traumatic brain injury and brain-gut-microbial axis. iBrain, 10(4), 477–487. Traumatic brain injury and the brain-gut-microbial axis
The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, and physical medicine, as well as wellness, sensitive health issues, and functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and facilitate clinical collaboration with specialists across disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and the jurisdiction in which they are licensed. We utilize functional health and wellness protocols to treat and support care for musculoskeletal injuries or disorders. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters and issues that directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice. Our office has made a reasonable effort to provide supportive citations and identify relevant research studies for our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies upon request to regulatory boards and the public.
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Blessings
Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, MSACP, APRN, FNP-BC*, CCST, IFMCP, CFMP, ATN
email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com
Multidisciplinary Licensing & Board Certifications:
Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License #: TX5807, Verified: TX5807
New Mexico DC License #: NM-DC2182, Verified: NM-DC2182
Multi-State Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN*) in Texas & Multi-States
Multi-State Compact APRN License by Endorsement (42 States)
Texas APRN License #: 1191402, Verified: 1191402 *
Florida APRN License #: 11043890, Verified: APRN11043890 *
New York APRN License #: N25929, Verified: APRN-N25929*
License Verification Link: Nursys License Verifier
* Prescriptive Authority Authorized
ANCC FNP-BC: Board Certified Nurse Practitioner*
Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*
Graduate with Honors: ICHS: MSN-FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)
Degree Granted. Master's in Family Practice MSN Diploma (Cum Laude)
Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, APRN, FNP-BC*, CFMP, IFMCP, ATN, CCST
My Digital Business Card
Dr. Maria Cardenas, MD
(Board Certified in Internal Medicine)
Medical Director & Collaborative Physician
NPI # 1164426749
MD License #: J2933
