Sport Concussion Baseline Testing
Envision Physiotherapy has developed a Baseline Testing program for Sport Related Concussion. A concussion is a brain injury that can happen with or without a blow to the head. It typically results in immediate but short-term symptoms that resolve within a few weeks. However, some people develop persistent symptoms such as headache, dizziness, feeling “foggy”, and/or nausea. Physiotherapy rehabilitation has been shown to improve recovery from a concussion in both the early and late stages.
Objective pre-injury measures serve as a point of reference when gauging concussion recovery and readiness to return to sport. Reaction time, balance, postural stability, and visual coordination skills can all be impacted by a concussion — having pre-injury baseline data dramatically improves the quality of return-to-play decisions.
Book NowWhy Consider Baseline Testing
Concussion symptoms vary person-to-person. Pre-season baseline data gives clinicians a personalised reference for recovery.
Balance Deficits
Athletes with concussion typically present with balance deficits acutely post-injury, linked to the inability to coordinate visual and vestibular sensory information. A pre-injury balance screen provides valuable comparison data after a concussive event.
Visual Screening
Eye coordination and teaming issues — including convergence insufficiency, coordination deficits, and rapid eye movement difficulties — are prevalent in concussion patients and are NOT always addressed in a standard optometric exam.
Reaction Time & Cognition
Cognitive measures (memory recall and reaction time) can shift significantly after a concussion. Comparing post-injury performance against an athlete’s own baseline is more sensitive than comparing against population norms.
Postural Stability
Postural control is often impaired post-concussion even when the athlete feels recovered. Quantifying this objectively at baseline helps guide return-to-play decisions safely.
What is Included in the Baseline Test
- 45-minute appointment with a physiotherapist
- Symptom severity score
- Memory recall
- Reaction time
- Balance assessment
- King Devick for visual screening
The following organisations support baseline testing:
- International Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport (Berlin) — 2017
- Canadian Olympic & Paralympic Concussion Guidelines — 2018
- Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation Guidelines for Diagnosing and Managing Pediatric Concussion — 2014
Our physiotherapists Marcus Dusseault, Erin Gibb and Taylor DiBrita have all completed post-graduate training specialising in concussion rehabilitation.
Sport Concussion Baseline Physiotherapists
Click a card to read each therapist’s full bio and book.
