Concussions & Baseline Testing

Why Baseline Testing for Concussions Matters (More Thank You Think!)

Let’s be honest, concussions can be confusing. They don’t show up on an X-ray or MRI, and symptoms can look totally different from person to person.

That’s where baseline testing comes in, it’s like having a “before” picture of your brain and body so we know exactly what’s normal for you before anything happens.

At Pursuit of Motion Physiotherapy, we use evidence-based tools to get a clear picture of how your brain and body function before any injury occurs.

Think of it as a performance snapshot for your brain. 

What Is a Concussion?

A concussion is a type of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) that happens when a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body causes the brain to move rapidly inside the skull. 

Common concussion symptoms include:

• Headache or pressure in the head

• Dizziness or loss of balance

• Blurred vision or sensitivity to light/noise

• Feeling foggy, tired, or “off”

• Trouble concentrating or remembering things 

Everyone experiences concussions differently, and symptoms can appear right away or hours later.

That’s why having baseline data makes such a difference, it gives us an accurate way to compare your post-injury results to your healthy normal. 

So… what exactly happens during baseline testing? 

During your session, one of our team members will guide you through a few short tasks that test different areas of brain and body function. These include:

SCAT-6 component highlights:

• Symptom list (headache, dizziness, foggy thoughts, etc.), so we understand how you normally feel

• Cognitive checks: memory, concentration, thinking speed

• Balance & coordination: simple but revealing

• Neurological screen: vision, neck, eye-tracking 

VOMS component highlights:

• Eye-tracking (smooth pursuit & saccades): how your eyes follow or jump between targets

• Convergence: how well your eyes focus on something close without going double

• Vestibular/Ocular Motor Reflex & Visual Motion Sensitivity: how your vision & balance systems respond in motion or when your head moves 

Why This Stuff Really Matters

• Without baseline data, if you do get a concussion it’s harder to know how much things have changed. Baseline gives us your “normal you.” 

• Safer return to activity: Decisions are based on evidence, not just “feeling okay.”

• Peace of mind: Both clients and families know that progress is being tracked scientifically

Who Should Get Baseline Tested?

Everyone.

It's not just contact-sport athletes, but also:

• Students or young adults who are active

• People working in physical jobs or around potential hazards

• Drivers, cyclists, and skiers

• Adults and older adults at risk of slips or falls 

In short: if you have a brain, you benefit from a baseline

The Takeaway

Concussions can happen anywhere, anytime. But, with baseline testing, you’re prepared.

Our team will help you compare your “after” to your “before”, so you can recover smarter, safer, and with confidence.