Concussion Care

Concussion is a common injury among children, adolescents, and adults participating in organized sports and recreational activities. A concussion is a brain injury that can’t be seen on routine X-rays, CT scans or MRIs. It affects the way a person may think and remember things and can cause a variety of symptoms. Any blow to the head, face or neck, or a blow to the body that jars your head, could cause a concussion.

Anyone who sustains a concussion should be removed from play immediately and medically evaluated as soon as possible. Cognitive and physical rest are recommended to allow symptoms to resolve initially but early interventions can be helpful with recovery.  Caring for a concussion can involve a variety of treatments and a team of health professionals, depending on the symptoms and how a person’s condition improves.It is important to progress through a medically supervised, stepwise exertion protocol to return to play and return to learn/work.

Concussion Experts

The Carleton Sport Medicine Clinic has a special interest in sport related concussion.  All of our primary care sport medicine physicians have received extra training in managing sport related concussions and multiple appointments are available throughout the week. Brigitte Roy is a Physician Assistant/Athletic Therapist who manages the majority of the concussion intake at the clinic and provides excellent guidance, education and management options.

Contact: Please call the clinic at 613-520-3510 to make an appointment if you have suffered a recent sport related concussion.

Carleton Sport Medicine Clinic has been designated as a Credentialed ImPACT consultant clinic. Clinicians who have earned the title of Credentialed ImPACT Consultant (CIC) have undergone specialized ImPACT training to offer state-of-the-art concussion care management to their patients. CICs are part of ImPACT’s national network of hundreds of healthcare providers who are leaders in clinical concussion care within their communities. Each CIC is an expert in utilizing ImPACT products and the ImPACT Concussion Care Model to diagnose and manage concussion injuries.

Concussion Support Group

The Paul Menton Centre for students with disabilities in collaboration with the Carleton Sport Medicine Clinic has created a support group for university students who are currently living with the effects of a concussion. This program is available to all Carleton University students and referrals from the Sports Medicine clinic. This joint collaboration is intended to provide a positive, friendly and supportive environment while students are recovering from post-concussion symptoms. If you have any questions about the program and/or you would like to attend, please email the program leader, Lorena Ruci at lorena.ruci@carleton.ca.

Subthreshold Exercise Testing

There is a clear benefit associated with aerobic exercise in individuals suffering from post-concussion symptoms. Participants perform the Bruce protocol while monitoring their heart rate and concussion symptoms every minute. The heart rate at which symptoms begin will be determined and is assigned as their symptom threshold heart rate.  Participants are encouraged to exercise at 80% of the symptom threshold heart rate (Leddy et al. 2010).  Monthly evaluations on a treadmill can be performed to determine and maintain a safe and beneficial level of aerobic activity which participants will perform on a regular basis at their convenience.  The goal is to assist patients with a safe, gradual, progressive return to physical activity so they can experience the benefits of aerobic activity in post-concussion syndrome.