Concussion Baseline Testing — The Good, Bad and Ugly

ByMatt Campbell, LAT, ATC, CBIS
Midwest Concussion Clinic graphic reading “Concussion Baseline Testing: The Truth Behind Baseline Testing,” with sports equipment, the clinic logo, and information about scheduling a baseline testing bundle.

What Is a Baseline Concussion Test?

A baseline concussion test is a set of tests and questionnaires administered by a trained healthcare provider — often an athletic trainer — to measure an athlete’s pre-injury brain and body function.

If a concussion is suspected later, these results serve as a point of comparison, giving objective data to guide the return-to-play decision.

Sounds intense?

It is — and that’s a good thing.

Concussions are a complex injury that can affect physical, mental, and emotional systems. If the injury is complex, the testing should be just as thorough.

What’s Included in a Thorough Baseline Test?

A gold-standard baseline concussion test measures multiple systems — not just in isolation, but also how they work together:

  • Cognitive Tests – impulse control, visual memory, short-term memory, immediate and delayed recall
  • Balance Testing – stationary and moving balance assessments in stable and unstable stances
  • Emotional Questionnaires – screenings for anxiety, depression, ADHD, and emotional stress

The more complete the pre-injury picture, the more confidently we can make decisions after an injury.

Why Is Baseline Testing Important?

Picture this —

You’re playing under the Friday night lights. You make a game-saving tackle. The crowd’s cheering. Adrenaline’s pumping. But you’re struggling to remember which sideline is yours.

Your athletic trainer asks, “Are you OK?”

You think so… but how do you know for sure?

With baseline data, we don’t have to guess.

We can compare your post-injury results to your healthy baseline and see if your brain and body are functioning the same. Without it, concussion care becomes less certain — and when it comes to the brain, guessing can be dangerous… or worse.

If you “feel fine,” we still need to prove you’re fine before you return to play.

Why Isn’t It Required for Everyone?

The NCAA, NFL, NBA, MLB, MLS, WNBA (just to name a few) all require their athletes complete a baseline neurocognitive test (concussion baseline) prior to beginning competition.

If it’s a requirement for the best athletes in the world — why doesn’t everyone require it?

That’s a great question.

The real answer is – Time and Money.

Concussion baseline testing can be labor intensive.

  • Finding the best testing option, there are a lot.
  • Administering the test to hundreds of athletes at a time.
  • Making sure the tests are valid.
  • Reviewing the tests.

All of those area the basics to start a baseline concussion testing protocol for your athletic organization.

All of this usually falls under the responsibility of the athletic trainer.

While all of this is happening, they must be providing healthcare services pre-practice, covering practice, post practice treatments, reviewing pre-participation physicals, coordinating appointments, completing paperwork all for hundreds, if not thousands, of athletes.

This is also happening at all of the major athletic organizations and leagues above — but there is more help too.

Now what about those club sports, youth sports, rural schools — teams and organizations that don’t have access to an athletic trainer. Who’s responsible for baseline concussion testing with those athletes?

The answer — nobody.

If there’s nobody available to complete the baseline testing or if the funding isn’t there for every athlete, team or organization — you can’t make it mandatory.

That’s where we come in.

The Midwest Concussion Clinic Baseline Bundle

We’ve taken the safety protocols from major leagues, the gold standard in brain health, and the convenience of at-home testing — and brought it to every athlete.

For $50 per athlete, you’ll receive:

  • Sway Medical Baseline Concussion Test – FDA-cleared, virtual cognitive, memory, and balance testing
  • Vestibular Ocular Motor Screen – assesses pre-existing eye movement patterns that can mimic concussion symptoms
  • Concussion Symptom Identifier Checklist – a simple guide to help identify whether symptoms are concussion-related
  • The 1st 48 Hour Concussion Guide – my proven recovery strategies for the critical first 48 hours after injury

📞 Call or Text (260) 200-3735

📧 Email Matt@MWConcussion.com

One hit can ruin a season — protect your athlete’s recovery by scheduling before the season starts.

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