Concussions don’t always leave visible scars, but their impact can be life-changing. During Concussion Awareness Week, September 21st to 27th, we’re reminded of the importance of recognizing the signs, impacts, and ongoing realities of concussions.
Certified Athletic Therapists (ATs) are trained to recognize and manage concussions as a routine part of their work. With expertise that covers the full continuum of concussion care, from the initial impact through to recovery, Certified ATs play a vital role in ensuring safe and effective treatment. However, concussions are not limited to sports; all of us live in a world where concussions happen. In 2022, over 573,000 Canadians experienced a concussion, at home, at work, or during everyday activities. This highlights an important truth: that recognizing and responding to concussions is not just the job of professionals; it is a shared responsibility we all carry.
To explore this further, we spoke to two Certified ATs, each with extensive backgrounds in concussion research and education. Dr. Michael Robinson, Assistant Professor at York University in the Kinesiology Department, teaches the Athletic Therapy program, and Dr. Colin King, Professor in the School of Kinesiology and Program Director of the Athletic Therapy option at Acadia University. Both bring years of experience in concussion care and education.
Where Their Work Began
Colin and Michael entered the field driven by questions and a desire to improve concussion care for future ATs and broader healthcare professionals.
For Michael, it started in academia during his master’s research on baseline testing and symptom overlap with other injuries. His research focused on improving clinical tools and striking a careful balance between overlooking symptoms and over-focusing on them.
Colin’s journey began on the ice. A former hockey athlete, he experienced multiple concussions and a lack of follow-up care. "I was surprised to see how little rehab was prescribed for such a serious injury,” he shared. That lived experience led him to concussion research when he transitioned from the field setting into a formal academic setting. He found many providers still lacked the tools and knowledge needed to manage these complex injuries.
Why Certified ATs Matter
Certified ATs are trained to assess and manage concussions with the same clinical skill they bring to musculoskeletal injuries. What sets them apart is their presence through the entire care continuum, from the sidelines to full recovery.
“A coach might pull an athlete from play and say, ‘You have a headache, you’re sitting out.’ But that’s not our job as ATs,” Michael explains. “We have four years of training and often a two-year master's program. Certified ATs are equipped to use those skill sets to guide assessment.”
Certified ATs understand that no two concussions are the same. They consider symptoms, context, and individual needs to deliver care that looks at the whole picture.
Time Is Of The Essence
The hours immediately following a concussion can be critical. “A concussion can take up to 72 hours to fully manifest,” Michael explained. “It's not just the event; the event goes into a continuum, and it causes these chain reactions.”
When Certified ATs are present for the moment of impact, they can manage this progression closely, identify red flags early and adjust care accordingly. This is what Michael calls “expert monitoring”, or the ability to track subtle changes over time and apply clinical judgement on both observation and experience.
Colin adds that Certified ATs also use a multi-modality approach to assessment while understanding the importance of individualized care. “The assessment can look similar for each injured individual, but the specific findings will help to create an individualized plan that will benefit the specific individual.”
The Invisible Injury
“The big problem is that a concussion is an invisible injury,” said Michael. “You end up in the mental health space, which can cause patients to doubt their injury. You don't walk into work with a cast, nothing that signals to the outside world you are injured.”
That makes it hard to pause life. Athletes may miss defining moments; others may face lost income, disrupted caregiving, or feeling left behind.
Certified ATs understand this. They’re trained not just to manage the physical symptoms of a concussion, but to see and support the whole person, including the emotional and psychological aspects of recovery. “You can’t see severity by just looking at someone…so we need to continue raising awareness around this fact and keeping that in mind when working with or supporting a concussed individual,” Colin highlighted.
“There are good days and there are bad days,” he continued. This means that when supporting clients through their recovery, they not only understand the realities of concussion healing but also have practical tools to help them manage on the tougher days.
That includes practical strategies like keeping a symptom journal, staying hydrated, getting proper nutrition, and prioritizing sleep, all of which play a critical role in healing.
Shared Responsibility and Prevention
“Concussions can happen anywhere and not just in sport; car accidents, workplace injuries, activities of daily living,” Colin said.
Michael emphasizes the importance of spatial awareness, proper equipment, and knowing one’s physical limits. Colin adds that education is one of the strongest tools for early recognition and smart decision-making.
And the responsibility extends beyond Certified ATs. “Many people will have to interact with someone who has experienced a concussion at some point in their life, maybe a teacher working with a concussive student, a supervisor working with a concussed worker, or maybe it is a parent or caregiver taking care of a concussed child,” Colin recognized.
The Power of Guided Recovery
As educators, researchers and Certified ATs, Colin and Michael are driven by the need for better understanding and more consistent care.
“I still see and hear many examples of ineffective care, which fuels my passion to instill these basic tenets of effective concussion care in our students. I feel like most people have heard of a concussion, but there are still many gaps in what to do once someone is concussed,” Colin shared.
Concussions can be complex, isolating and deeply personal, but no one should have to navigate them alone. Certified ATs offer expert guidance, personalized care and support that goes beyond physical symptoms.
In a world where concussions happen, accessing the support of a Certified AT can make the journey less overwhelming and far more effective. Their presence can turn uncertainty into a plan and isolation into collaboration.
Find out more about the care Certified ATs provide, from concussion treatment and beyond: athletictherapy.org/concussion-awareness-in-athletic-therapy
Disclaimer: This article is a collection of personal insights and experiences shared by Certified Athletic Therapists and professionals in the field. It is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you are experiencing concussion symptoms or have concerns about your health, please consult a qualified healthcare professional for proper evaluation and treatment.
Certified Athletic Therapists (ATs) are trained to recognize and manage concussions as a routine part of their work. With expertise that covers the full continuum of concussion care, from the initial impact through to recovery, Certified ATs play a vital role in ensuring safe and effective treatment. However, concussions are not limited to sports; all of us live in a world where concussions happen. In 2022, over 573,000 Canadians experienced a concussion, at home, at work, or during everyday activities. This highlights an important truth: that recognizing and responding to concussions is not just the job of professionals; it is a shared responsibility we all carry.
To explore this further, we spoke to two Certified ATs, each with extensive backgrounds in concussion research and education. Dr. Michael Robinson, Assistant Professor at York University in the Kinesiology Department, teaches the Athletic Therapy program, and Dr. Colin King, Professor in the School of Kinesiology and Program Director of the Athletic Therapy option at Acadia University. Both bring years of experience in concussion care and education.
Where Their Work Began
Colin and Michael entered the field driven by questions and a desire to improve concussion care for future ATs and broader healthcare professionals.
For Michael, it started in academia during his master’s research on baseline testing and symptom overlap with other injuries. His research focused on improving clinical tools and striking a careful balance between overlooking symptoms and over-focusing on them.
Colin’s journey began on the ice. A former hockey athlete, he experienced multiple concussions and a lack of follow-up care. "I was surprised to see how little rehab was prescribed for such a serious injury,” he shared. That lived experience led him to concussion research when he transitioned from the field setting into a formal academic setting. He found many providers still lacked the tools and knowledge needed to manage these complex injuries.
Why Certified ATs Matter
Certified ATs are trained to assess and manage concussions with the same clinical skill they bring to musculoskeletal injuries. What sets them apart is their presence through the entire care continuum, from the sidelines to full recovery.
“A coach might pull an athlete from play and say, ‘You have a headache, you’re sitting out.’ But that’s not our job as ATs,” Michael explains. “We have four years of training and often a two-year master's program. Certified ATs are equipped to use those skill sets to guide assessment.”
Certified ATs understand that no two concussions are the same. They consider symptoms, context, and individual needs to deliver care that looks at the whole picture.
Time Is Of The Essence
The hours immediately following a concussion can be critical. “A concussion can take up to 72 hours to fully manifest,” Michael explained. “It's not just the event; the event goes into a continuum, and it causes these chain reactions.”
When Certified ATs are present for the moment of impact, they can manage this progression closely, identify red flags early and adjust care accordingly. This is what Michael calls “expert monitoring”, or the ability to track subtle changes over time and apply clinical judgement on both observation and experience.
Colin adds that Certified ATs also use a multi-modality approach to assessment while understanding the importance of individualized care. “The assessment can look similar for each injured individual, but the specific findings will help to create an individualized plan that will benefit the specific individual.”
The Invisible Injury
“The big problem is that a concussion is an invisible injury,” said Michael. “You end up in the mental health space, which can cause patients to doubt their injury. You don't walk into work with a cast, nothing that signals to the outside world you are injured.”
That makes it hard to pause life. Athletes may miss defining moments; others may face lost income, disrupted caregiving, or feeling left behind.
Certified ATs understand this. They’re trained not just to manage the physical symptoms of a concussion, but to see and support the whole person, including the emotional and psychological aspects of recovery. “You can’t see severity by just looking at someone…so we need to continue raising awareness around this fact and keeping that in mind when working with or supporting a concussed individual,” Colin highlighted.
“There are good days and there are bad days,” he continued. This means that when supporting clients through their recovery, they not only understand the realities of concussion healing but also have practical tools to help them manage on the tougher days.
That includes practical strategies like keeping a symptom journal, staying hydrated, getting proper nutrition, and prioritizing sleep, all of which play a critical role in healing.
Shared Responsibility and Prevention
“Concussions can happen anywhere and not just in sport; car accidents, workplace injuries, activities of daily living,” Colin said.
Michael emphasizes the importance of spatial awareness, proper equipment, and knowing one’s physical limits. Colin adds that education is one of the strongest tools for early recognition and smart decision-making.
And the responsibility extends beyond Certified ATs. “Many people will have to interact with someone who has experienced a concussion at some point in their life, maybe a teacher working with a concussive student, a supervisor working with a concussed worker, or maybe it is a parent or caregiver taking care of a concussed child,” Colin recognized.
The Power of Guided Recovery
As educators, researchers and Certified ATs, Colin and Michael are driven by the need for better understanding and more consistent care.
“I still see and hear many examples of ineffective care, which fuels my passion to instill these basic tenets of effective concussion care in our students. I feel like most people have heard of a concussion, but there are still many gaps in what to do once someone is concussed,” Colin shared.
Concussions can be complex, isolating and deeply personal, but no one should have to navigate them alone. Certified ATs offer expert guidance, personalized care and support that goes beyond physical symptoms.
In a world where concussions happen, accessing the support of a Certified AT can make the journey less overwhelming and far more effective. Their presence can turn uncertainty into a plan and isolation into collaboration.
Find out more about the care Certified ATs provide, from concussion treatment and beyond: athletictherapy.org/concussion-awareness-in-athletic-therapy
Disclaimer: This article is a collection of personal insights and experiences shared by Certified Athletic Therapists and professionals in the field. It is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. If you are experiencing concussion symptoms or have concerns about your health, please consult a qualified healthcare professional for proper evaluation and treatment.
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