Concussions

Concussions

Return-to-Play Authorization

The Collège des médecins du Québec (CMQ) and the CTSQ published a joint announcement detailing a new right of practice for athletic therapists in the field of concussion. As of now, CTSQ’s members can authorize full return-to-play to patients with a concussion or mTBI diagnosis. This initiative aims to facilitate the access to a competent professional in an already overwhelmed healthcare system.

Please find here under a summary of the activity. All details and official information are to be found in the joint announcement itself, available lower in this page, or directly on the CMQ’s website.

 

Conditions of Practice

In order to authorize a gradual and full return-to-play, athletic therapists must:

  • • have an official concussion or mTBI medical diagnosis from a doctor or specialized nurse practitioner (SNP);
    • ο the diagnosis must be obtained to rule out more severe conditions;
  • • have a practice profile that regularly exposes them to patients with mTBI or CC;
  • • take training in TBI/CC identification and management at least every four years;
    • ο in the next few months, the CTSQ will look at available courses to determine which ones would be recommended with regards to having a sufficient level of knowledge on the field to help athletic therapists choose their continuing education opportunities.

 

Need for Medical Clearance

However, patients followed by an athletic therapist will have to get medical clearance before full return to activity if there is:

  • ⇒ presence of persistent symptoms;
  • ⇒ presence of red flags at any moment following the trauma;
  • ⇒ abnormal evolution of symptoms in the hours or days following the initial diagnosis;
  • ⇒ presence of a comorbidity (i.e., ADD/ADHD);
  • ⇒ presence of a concussion in the previous year;
  • ⇒ presence of two or more concussions in their medical history.

 

Patient Follow-Up

As we always aim for high-quality professional services to our patients, athletic therapists who wish to practise this new activity must follow rigorous norms of practice. Amongst other things, the athletic therapist must:

  • • follow recent well-accepted return-to-activity protocols;
  • • chart all useful criteria leading to their decision to allow full return-to-play in sports.

 

Important Documents

Guidelines

Concussion Management Guidelines for Athletic Therapists in Québec, 3rd edition (in French)

Others resources