Safely returning to sport after a concussion
Concussions are functional brain injuries that affect how the brain works, and returning to sport too quickly can increase the risk of prolonged symptoms or more serious injury. Parachute Canada’s 6-step return-to-sport protocol provides a structured, evidence-based path to recovery, starting with symptom-limited daily activity and progressing through light exercise, sport-specific drills, non-contact training, full-contact practice, and finally a safe return to competition. Each step requires careful monitoring and at least 24 hours before advancing, with medical clearance needed before contact. Tools like the Ontario Online Concussion Assessment help ensure athletes receive timely evaluation, proper documentation, and safe guidance through each stage of recovery.
How do online concussion assessments work?
Virtual concussion assessments offer a structured, evidence-based alternative to in-person care, allowing patients across Ontario to access high-quality evaluation and rehabilitation remotely. These visits emphasize a detailed clinical history—covering mechanism of injury, symptom patterns, medical background, and functional demands—paired with a targeted virtual exam that screens neurological function, vision and vestibular systems, balance, gait, and the cervical spine. Treatment focuses on active rehabilitation supported by current research, including symptom-limited aerobic exercise, vestibular and oculomotor therapy, cervical spine management, return-to-work or school planning, and headache strategies. When needed, care is coordinated with other healthcare providers, and safety triage is built into every assessment. For many patients, virtual concussion care delivers accessible, individualized, and clinically rigorous support through the entire recovery process.
