Trust our team of concussion recovery experts:
The Health Performance Centre (HPC) concussion team includes on-site Sport Medicine Doctors who will conduct a thorough medical examination and recommend necessary treatment. They work collaboratively with the HPC team to ensure a patient meets their goals and will include referrals for physiotherapy, chiropractic, massage therapy, and/or naturopathic medicine.
For more information regarding the characteristics of a good concussion clinic, please reference this document from the Canadian Concussion Collaborative [1].
What is a Concussion? Signs, Symptoms and Diagnosis
A concussion is a common type of brain injury that can occur from a direct blow to the head or an indirect force to the neck. Symptoms can range from body-related issues like dizziness and nausea to cognitive problems like difficulty concentrating or remembering. If you have experienced a concussion, it is important to seek treatment to ensure appropriate management and prevent long-term consequences. The diagnosis of a concussion can cause anxiety and stress, especially for athletes who may worry about missing out on sports or falling behind in school or adults who have work and parenting responsibilities to consider.
Signs, Symptoms and Diagnosis
Learn More [2]
For expert care, turn to Health and Performance Centre, the leading concussion clinic in Guelph, ON. We can help you successfully recover from your concussion and return to your regular activities.
Concussion Recovery is Possible! Expert Concussion Treatments and Recovery in Guelph
As a leading concussion recovery clinic in Guelph, Health and Performance Centre (HPC) offers specialized care for individuals, particularly athletes, suffering from concussion symptoms. The HPC concussion team, comprising experienced sports medicine doctors, chiropractors, massage therapists, and physiotherapists, work together to evaluate the individual's condition and determine the body systems contributing to their symptoms. The HPC team provides personalized concussion recovery plans, which may include manual therapy, balance and vision training exercises, cardiovascular conditioning, and sport-specific protocols.
Concussion Treatments
Available at HPC [3]
HPC Concussion-related services:
- Sport Medicine Doctors [4](OHIP funded)
- Physiotherapy [5]*
- Chiropractic [6]*
- Massage Therapy [7]*
- Naturopathic Medicine [8]*
(*covered by most insurance plans)
Concussion Prevention
Concussions are one of the most common injuries in sports, and they have become a major concern for athletes, coaches, and parents. With the latest research showing the potential long-term effects of concussions, it is crucial that we take steps to prevent them.
The strength behind concussion prevention often relies on adhering to rules to avoid unnecessary and inappropriate head and body contact. While wearing safety equipment can reduce other injuries, no specific helmet or mouth guard has been shown to reduce concussive symptoms to date. If you'd like more information on how you can better avoid a concussion while you're playing a certain sport, contact the Health and Performance Centre to speak with someone from our concussion team.
Book an Appointment
Learn How HPC Can Help [9]
Concussion Baseline Testing
Many youths and professional sporting organizations are opting into concussion baseline testing. Canadian research does identify several risk factors that can predispose athletes to concussions.
Concussion baseline testing occurs before the athlete’s season begins. In addition to being aware of players at higher risk, baseline testing gives athletes the opportunity to have many body systems that can be injured by a concussion assessed when they are in a healthy state.
This baseline information gives medical professionals a comparative advantage when assessing athletes that have suffered a concussion. HPC has adopted an extensive Concussion Baseline Testing Program, which is available to individuals and sporting organizations. Our baseline testing includes a detailed assessment by a Registered Physiotherapist to include:
- Medical history looking for high-risk factors
- neck movement & strength
- VOMS- Visual Ocular System
- Balance, cognition, and memory testing through the administration of the SCAT5
- ongoing communication with your doctor, parents, and athletes
Our experience has demonstrated that many athletes have “normal” positive findings in their healthy baseline state. Without the opportunity to have evaluated the athletes prior to an injury, these “normal positive findings” could be misinterpreted for positive concussion findings post-injury and could lead to poor recommendations with the return to school, work or sport.
Your physiotherapist will share any relevant findings, with permission, to coaches and your additional healthcare providers.
Youth Minor Sports Organization Support
The University of Guelph’s Health and Performance Centre is here to support our community athletes. We welcome the opportunity to help ensure that your organization is meeting Rowan's Law.
Our physiotherapists are available for both in-person and ZOOM educational seminars with your executive, coaches, athletes, and parents. To book an educational seminar, please email hpc@uoguelph.ca.
Rowan's Law Resources for Concussion Awareness resources:
- Under 10 years of age [10]:
- Educational video [11]
- Ages 11-14 [12]
- Educational video [13]
- Ages 15+ [14]
- Educational video [15]
- All students & athletes [16]
