Concussion Baseline Testing for Athletes & Sports Teams (and anyone - because everyone is at risk of a concussion)
What is concussion baseline testing?
Concussion baseline testing is a comprehensive series of tests that assesses baseline function of multiple aspects of brain function. It serves as a baseline for comparison in the event that you sustain a concussion.
Why participate in concussion baseline testing?
Briefly, it helps make more informed decisions in the management of concussion and in safe return to play/return to activity.
In the event that you have a concussion, you are going to want to have baseline testing results so that you have a comparison. There are some aspects in concussion testing that could be “impaired” in an individual even prior to concussion. In these cases, it is helpful to be able to distinguish between an individual’s normal brain performance vs what may be affected by concussion. Because concussion does not show up in a standard MRI, the dx of concussion is not always so obvious, therefore baseline testing can aid in diagnosis. Health care practitioners and others involved in concussion care team can and should use baseline test metrics to guide personalized rehabilitation.
Another bonus is the education component of baseline testing. When undergoing baseline testing you are getting a look in to all of the things that could possibly be impacted if you were to ever sustain a concussion. This raises awareness and the hope is that you feel better equipped in how to proceed/what to do in the event that you do sustain a concussion.
What does concussion baseline testing include?
Baseline testing at Be Balanced Physical Therapy includes:
a questionnaire that asks about things like medical history/family health history/concussion history and things like “how is your sleep?”
a symptom checklist
neurocognitive assessment
balance assessment (*using different measures to include VALD force plates)
reaction time assessment
vestibular and ocular testing
coordination assessment
When should I do concussion baseline testing?
It should be completed proactively, every year - just like a yearly PCP wellness visit. If you are an athlete, you want to undergo concussion baseline testing prior to the beginning of your season. If you are not playing a sport but have other activities that you participate in year round (like jui jitsu for example) or if you are at risk of falling or a car crash (which is every human😉), you can pick any time to participate in concussion baseline testing.