Concussions dominate the conversation in sports—but what about the impacts that don’t trigger a concussion diagnosis?

In Part 1 of this two-part ICA Sports & Fitness Science Council podcast series, Dr. Brant Hulsebus sits down with fellow board member Dr. Kevin Jackson to explore the often-overlooked issue of sub-concussive forces and their effect on the upper cervical spine.

This episode focuses on what happens before a concussion is diagnosed—and why athletes can appear “fine” while still experiencing measurable neurological dysfunction.

Dr. Jackson shares his research-driven approach to identifying sub-concussive injury in real time, including how chiropractors can perform objective, sideline-based assessments using practical tools that are repeatable, defensible, and field-ready.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
• What sub-concussive forces are and why they matter  
• Why standard concussion protocols often miss upper cervical injury  
• How repetitive, lower-level impacts accumulate over time  
• The role of the cranial-cervical junction in neurological function  
• How to perform quick, objective sideline assessments  
• Why measurable data changes communication with coaches and parents  

This conversation is science-based, conservative, and practical—designed for chiropractors working with contact and collision sports who want to operate responsibly on the sideline.

🎧 Part 2 will cover safe upper cervical intervention, sideline decision-making, and when athletes must be removed from play.

Presented by the International Chiropractic Association (ICA) and the ICA Sports & Fitness Science Council.