Concussion Management | Baseline Testing
Monday, February 24, 2025
Concussions are becoming an increasing concern in sports, recreation, and everyday life. As awareness of the potential effects of brain injuries grows, the need for proactive strategies to assess and manage concussions has never been more critical. In the case of a concussion, symptom resolution often occurs before the brain has fully recovered. Therefore, without understanding an individual's condition before the injury, all return-to-play decisions are essentially a guess. This is why baseline testing, combined with early intervention from a concussion care specialist such as a Complete Concussion Management Inc. (CCMI) registered physiotherapist at Physio Inq Sutherland, plays a pivotal role in optimising recovery and minimising long-term complications.
What Is Baseline Testing for Concussion Management?
Baseline testing is a pre-injury evaluation that involves a series of functional and cognitive tasks conducted before a concussion occurs. This assessment establishes an individual's normal functioning, so if a concussion happens, clinicians have a reference point to assess the severity and track recovery progress accurately. Typically performed before the start of a sports season or as part of routine health assessments, baseline testing evaluates:
- Cognitive function (memory, attention, reaction time, and processing speed)
- Symptom severity scores
- Balance and coordination
- Visual and vestibular function
- Neurological and physical health history
Standardised tools used in baseline testing often include the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT5), postural sway testing, and computerised neurocognitive testing platforms. Additionally, individualised testing protocols may include assessments for vestibular and cervical spine function.
What is the Role of Baseline Testing in Concussion Management?
Complete recovery from a concussion is often difficult to determine, as a patient’s symptoms typically resolve faster than the brain itself. Even when a patient is no longer symptomatic, recovery may still be ongoing. This is where a point of comparison becomes crucial. Baseline testing bridges this gap by offering:
1. Individualised Care Plans
Baseline testing allows healthcare providers to tailor post-concussion treatment plans to the individual. Understanding a person’s pre-injury cognitive and physical abilities provides a reference point for accurately tracking recovery and guiding return-to-play or return-to-work decisions.
2. Distinguishing Pre-existing Conditions
Many individuals have conditions such as migraines, ADHD, or anxiety that can mimic or exacerbate concussion symptoms. Baseline testing helps differentiate these pre-existing issues from concussion-related changes, ensuring more accurate diagnosis and management.
3. Guiding Rehabilitation
Baseline testing can pinpoint specific deficits in balance, vision, or cognition. This targeted information enables clinicians to create focused rehabilitation strategies, such as vestibular therapy, oculomotor exercises, or cognitive retraining.
4. Objective Data for Decision-Making
Due to the subjective nature of concussion symptoms, return-to-play decisions can be challenging. Baseline data provides objective benchmarks, reducing reliance on subjective reporting and minimising the risk of premature return.
Why is Baseline Testing Important for Athletes and Teams?
For athletes, especially those in high-contact sports, baseline testing is invaluable. Concussion specialist physiotherapists, like those at Physio Inq Sutherland, work with both community sport and with high-performing athletes. Baseline testing aligns with the "gold standard" Complete Concussion Management Inc. (CCMI) concussion protocols. The CCMI framework highlights the importance of thorough pre-season evaluations to:
- Promote athlete safety
- Enhance recovery timelines
- Prevent long-term complications such as second impact syndrome.
Multiple studies have shown that a single concussion does not necessarily increase the risk of long-term complications. However, when an individual sustains multiple concussions in close succession (i.e., before the brain has fully recovered from the first concussion), the risk of severe and/or irreversible damage increases significantly. This is why having personalised data to compare to is crucial for ensuring a safe return to sport.
Is Baseline Testing Only for Athletes?
Baseline testing is not just for athletes. It is increasingly being used in workplaces with a high risk of head injuries, such as construction or military settings, as well as in schools to ensure that academic accommodations for students post-injury are both effective and appropriate.
Conclusion
Baseline testing is a cornerstone of modern concussion management, providing clinicians with crucial data to guide diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. Incorporating baseline assessments into pre-season or workplace safety protocols can significantly improve outcomes and minimise risks. Whether you’re an athlete, a parent, or someone who values proactive healthcare, baseline testing and early intervention are essential for effective concussion management. By working with a CCMI-registered practitioner, you can ensure access to high-quality, individualised care that supports recovery and reduces the risk of long-term complications.
Book a baseline test or consultation with Physio Inq Sutherland’s, registered concussion care specialist Physiotherapists today.
Further Reading
Concussion Guidelines for Community Sport
