A baseline test is one of the best proactive steps you can take to protect yourself from the complications of a concussion.
Baseline test: The concussion test you need before you get a concussion
A concussion baseline test is a series of physical and cognitive tests that measure healthy brain function before your sports season starts. And before you have sustained any injury.
If you end up with a concussion, the results of these tests can be used as a comparison to help us make better decisions about when it’s safe for you to return to sport.
Who should get a baseline test for concussion?
Do you play sport? If you do, then a concussion baseline test could be a valuable tool to contribute to your safety on the field.
A concussion is a functional injury. To decide if it’s safe for you to return to sport after a concussion, we’re not just looking at your symptoms, we’re looking at how you perform certain functions. To do that, we need something to compare to and that’s where baseline testing comes in.
Just relying on your symptoms to determine recovery is risky. If you had a concussion and you are showing no more symptoms, this does not mean you have fully recovered from your concussion.
Baseline testing is where we do a series of functional and cognitive tests before your season starts. If you get a concussion, we will refer to the results of these tests. We’ll test you again and compare the results.
We can see if you’re functionally recovered and be more certain you are safe to return to your sport.
If functionality is not there, you will need more recovery time.
Is baseline concussion testing right for you?
Are you over the age of 10 and do you participate in a collision or high-speed sport?
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Yes – consider annual comprehensive baseline testing
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No – baseline testing won’t hurt, but should not be a requirement for participation
What are the tests, exactly?
At Thrive Canberra we conduct a series of comprehensive tests that make up your baseline. These include:
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Concussion history
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Medical history
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Symptom score
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Orientation
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Auditory memory
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Concentration
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Visual tracking
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Processing speed
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Balance
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Postural sway
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Reaction time
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Delayed recall
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Neurocognitive testing
Sam bettison 