First, sub-concussive impacts do not cause concussion symptoms. They may have a local soreness. Second, you are trying to understand issues that the experts with MD after their name do not understand. Yes, head aches can be from overdoing it. The challenge is to find the threshold of effort that does not cause a return of or increase in head aches. It is not a 'I'm going to be active to the point of getting a head ache then stop' It is a "I'm going to stop or reduce my activity level before I get a head ache.'

For many of us, head aches are a side effect of over doing it. The main symptoms is a cognitive crash, anxiety attack, and foggy brain that result from over-doing it.

If your primary struggle is head aches, take an ibuprofen and move on.

As a scientist, you should be well versed in cause and effect. Only you know the activity levels you are involved in. Anything that causes you to need to be attentive can lead to problems. You need to learn how to shut off this need to understand everything.