Chiefs get pre-season concussion testing
Before the AAA hockey season kicked off, the Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs completed their Concussion Baseline Testing with Pro Function Sports Injury Clinic at the Centrefield Sports Complex. Nearly 130 athletes completed baseline testing, which includes a series of physical, cognitive, and exertional tests designed to give a pre-injury overview of healthy brain function. In the event that an athlete suffers a concussion, their baseline test can be used to assist in making safe and effective return to play decisions.
When is the best time to return to play?
Like any sports injury, a concussion must be assessed and treated on a case-by-case basis. The most important thing to remember is that just like any other sports injury, returning to play with a concussion should be a graduated process. If you sprained your ankle, you wouldn’t rest for a couple days, jump straight back into sport, and expect to perform. The same can be said for concussions. Here at Pro Function, we utilize an up-to-date return to play protocol to help guide return to sport and make the athlete’s safety our primary focus.
If symptoms disappear, does that mean the concussion is gone?
Relying on symptoms to determine recovery is risky. Just because a concussed athlete shows no symptoms does not necessarily mean that they have fully recovered from their concussion. Specific concussion-based exercise tests can help indicate how far along your recovery is and determine when it’s safe to return to play.
Here at Pro Function, our Concussion Management practitioner, Dr. Joseph Greenwood, is fully certified to assess your concussion symptoms and manage your return to play.
Submitted by Pro Function Sports Injury Clinic
