Return to Sport After Concussion

Returning to sport after a concussion needs to be gradual and closely monitored. Going back too early, or increasing intensity too quickly, raises the risk of prolonging symptoms or, more seriously, sustaining a further head injury while the brain is still recovering.

Our graded return-to-sport process

Once your symptoms have settled with rest and any required treatment, we build a step-by-step return-to-sport program, generally working through progressive stages such as:

• Light aerobic activity, symptom-free
• Sport-specific exercise, without contact
• Non-contact training drills
• Full-contact practice, once cleared
• Return to competitive play

Each stage is designed to be completed without a return of symptoms before progressing to the next. If symptoms come back at any point, we step back to the previous stage.

All of our assessment and management is based on the latest International Consensus Guidelines of Concussion Management, including the SCOAT6.

Exercise tolerance testing

Exercise intolerance is common after concussion, so we test how your body and symptoms respond to increasing physical exertion in a controlled way. This helps us set safe starting points and progressions, and gives you and your coaches an objective marker of readiness rather than guesswork.

Working with coaches, clubs and GPs

We liaise with coaches, sports physiotherapists, trainers and your GP throughout the process, so everyone involved understands the plan and the reasoning behind each stage. We support the medical teams at the South Australian Cricket Association, the Adelaide Crows, Port Adelaide and SANFL clubs, and we bring the same structured approach to junior and community-level athletes.

Baseline testing helps too

If you completed baseline testing with us before your injury, or would like to for next season, we can compare your recovery data directly against your individual baseline, which adds another layer of confidence to the clearance process. Baseline testing is also available for whole teams and squads, on our sports concussion page.

Frequently asked questions

How long does return to sport take after a concussion?

It is individual, but the staged process typically takes a minimum of one to two weeks once symptoms have settled, and can take longer depending on how each stage progresses.

Can my child return to school before returning to sport?

Yes. Return to learn generally happens before return to play. Managing cognitive demands at school is usually the first step, with sport following once that is well tolerated.

Who provides medical clearance to return to sport?

We guide the graded return-to-sport process and can provide documentation, but formal clearance is often a joint decision with your GP or team doctor, particularly for contact sport.

Do you provide written clearance letters for clubs or schools?

Yes, we can provide documentation and liaise directly with coaches, sports physiotherapists or schools as part of the return-to-sport process.