How Do I Receive a Concussion Baseline Exam?

In 2015, I experienced a head injury that changed my entire outlook on concussions and what is involved in them. I don’t talk about my experience with my concussion, because it’s something that has been shaken off as an athlete being “weak”, or “too scared” to return to competition. But now more than ever, it is important to share our experiences, so more attention can be brought to this issue. And along with that comes education, and sharing that education with our athletes, coaches, teammates, competitors, and everyone else we come in contact with on a regular basis, within our sport and outside our sport. 

That brings me to the reason of this post – Concussion Baseline Exams. No longer do we need to have a license physician monitor these exams, or wait in line at the doctors office to receive one. Impact Applications has brought forward an online exam, which we each can take in the comfort of our home, to help set a baseline exam, as well as a post-injury exam, to determine our eligibility and recovery from head injuries. The cost of the exam is $20, and I encourage every single athlete to take one. Better yet, every member of your family should take one. Concussions can happen to us anytime, anywhere. We should protect our brain health, and take actions in doing so. 

So when you get done reading this post, click on the link below, and begin taking your concussion baseline exam. While I had one an exam in 2013, it should have been updated at least once a year. I took it repeatedly over the course of 2015 -> 2017, and finally returned to my base level in the summer of 2017….two years later. Every concussion is different, and each should be treated with utmost care. Keep an eye out for your friends, teammates, and fellow competitors. We are all in this together.

I’ve also listed below USA Cycling’s Concussion Protocol.  Please take some time to review it, and view the other resources listed. 

– Coach Missy