Concussion Guidelines

Concussion in sport has been highlighted in the media. High profile sportspeople are reporting ill health due to repeated concussions during their career. Think Gary Ablett Snr, Daniel Venables and Angus Brayshaw.

Now the focus is on concussion care at grass roots level. By following the guidelines and having a concussion physio assessment and treatment, there will no longer be cases of repeated concussion.

The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) is a government body that has released updated guidelines in February 2024 and is considered to be the overarching guidelines to cover all codes of sport played in Australia. Including soccer, hockey, ice skating, GAA (Irish football and Hurling) and basketball.

The AFL and Rugby League codes have released their own guidelines, which align with the AIS but have slightly different timing on medical clearances and return to play. It is important that players of these codes use the specific guidelines and medical clearance forms.

As a summary the concussion guidelines describe concussion recovery as;

Concussion Event
Brief period of rest; 24-48 hours
a. Day off work/school
OPTIONAL GP ASSESSMENT
PHYSIO CONCUSSION ASSESSMENT
Period of recovery; minimum 7 days
a. Return to work/school
b. Reintroduce aerobic exercise
c. Reintroduce weights training
PHYSIO CONCUSSION ASSESSMENT
Graded loading program; minimum of 14 days
a. Non-contact training
b. Limited contact training
GP CLEARANCE TO RETURN TO PLAY
c. Full contact training
Return to Play

Concussion assessment and treatment is the most successful with the collaboration of Physiotherapy and GP’s.

At Active Solutions Physiotherapy we perform Baseline Concussion Tests, Concussion Evaluation and Treatment.

All of our assessments include the use of NeuroFlex concussion goggles, for the most accurate, completely objective and best use of technology to assess the Vestibular Ocular Motor Reflexes (VOMS).

CALL US

Tap to call
0438 648 884