'Chronic Pain, Migraine & Concussion'
A Special Interest Clinic
Nelson 0278535001
Autonomic Nervous System Assessment
The brainstem is critical in that most of the body's automatic activities are controlled from here. Some of these are: blood pressure, body temperature regulation, breath rate, heart rate, blood flow to the activity of the digestive organs such as the stomach, spleen, liver, kidney, pancreas, the large and small intestines and more. The brainstem even has a direct effect on the hormonal system.
A key control system for the organs is the autonomic nervous system which originates in the brainstem. This autonomic system has two parts: the sympathetic part that is like the accelerator in the car which speeds up and readies all the organs, blood flow etc. for action while the other part, the parasympathetic system, is like the brake in a car; it slows everything down and starts the rest and repair phase after a period of high activity. These two parts dance a continuous dance; one responding to the other; one speeding things up the other controlling and slowing things down.
When the autonomic system is out of balance in concussion clients, they can have trouble controlling body temperature so they could be cold and sweating. Or they might have low energy because one or the other part of that system does not do its complementary part to balance heart rate or blood pressure. This is tiring and makes people feel unwell and unmotivated or they can’t think straight because their brains are trying to make sense of information that it can’t correct or control. Often concussion clients can feel like they are going to black out but never quite do. During a migraine episode, this same system is also dysfunctional. Other symptoms can be lethargy or in a constant state of high alert or panic. These are just some of the symptoms of autonomic nervous system dysfunction.
A key control system for the organs is the autonomic nervous system which originates in the brainstem. This autonomic system has two parts: the sympathetic part that is like the accelerator in the car which speeds up and readies all the organs, blood flow etc. for action while the other part, the parasympathetic system, is like the brake in a car; it slows everything down and starts the rest and repair phase after a period of high activity. These two parts dance a continuous dance; one responding to the other; one speeding things up the other controlling and slowing things down.
When the autonomic system is out of balance in concussion clients, they can have trouble controlling body temperature so they could be cold and sweating. Or they might have low energy because one or the other part of that system does not do its complementary part to balance heart rate or blood pressure. This is tiring and makes people feel unwell and unmotivated or they can’t think straight because their brains are trying to make sense of information that it can’t correct or control. Often concussion clients can feel like they are going to black out but never quite do. During a migraine episode, this same system is also dysfunctional. Other symptoms can be lethargy or in a constant state of high alert or panic. These are just some of the symptoms of autonomic nervous system dysfunction.
How does this get assessed?
A simple three-minute test with a plethysmograph gives a pretty good clue if one part of the system is not working or doesn't have enough power to bring the system back into balance. Some of the feedback includes:
Heart Rate
Heart Rate Variability
Physical Stress Factor
Mental Stress Factor
Emotional Stress Factor
Arterial Plaque Reading
Sympathetic Nervous System Reading
Parasympathetic Nervous System Reading
In some people, we do a treadmill test in a gym setting, if required.
SEE BLOG POST FOR FURTHER READING
A simple three-minute test with a plethysmograph gives a pretty good clue if one part of the system is not working or doesn't have enough power to bring the system back into balance. Some of the feedback includes:
Heart Rate
Heart Rate Variability
Physical Stress Factor
Mental Stress Factor
Emotional Stress Factor
Arterial Plaque Reading
Sympathetic Nervous System Reading
Parasympathetic Nervous System Reading
In some people, we do a treadmill test in a gym setting, if required.
SEE BLOG POST FOR FURTHER READING
