Sports Concussion Clinic — Burlington

Sports concussion is not just a waiting game

The old advice — sit in a dark room and wait — has been replaced by evidence that early, guided management leads to faster and more complete recovery. For athletes, this matters enormously. Every week on the sideline is a week of deconditioning, missed training, and psychological strain.

At Burlington Concussion Clinic, we specialize in the full arc of sports concussion care: accurate assessment within days of injury, targeted treatment of the underlying deficits, and a structured return-to-sport progression that meets the standards required by most sports organizations in Ontario.

Who we see

We work with athletes across all sports and all levels — youth recreational through adult competitive:

• Ice hockey and ringette
• Soccer and football
• Rugby and lacrosse
• Basketball and volleyball
• Cycling, skiing, and snowboarding
• Gymnastics, cheerleading, and dance
• Combat sports and martial arts
• Any contact or collision sport

You don't need to be a competitive athlete to benefit from specialized sports concussion care. Anyone with an active lifestyle who wants to return to sport safely is a good fit.

What our sports concussion assessment covers

A sports concussion assessment at our clinic is comprehensive — not just a symptom checklist. We evaluate every system that concussion typically affects:

• Symptom profile — detailed review of headache, dizziness, cognitive, and emotional symptoms, and how they respond to exertion
• Vestibular function — inner ear and balance system testing to identify dizziness, spatial disorientation, and gaze instability
• Oculomotor function — eye tracking, smooth pursuit, convergence, and saccade testing to detect visual system involvement
• Cervical spine — assessment for whiplash, cervicogenic headache, and upper neck contributions to concussion symptoms
• Exertion testing — where appropriate, a graded physical exertion assessment to evaluate your cardiovascular response and symptom threshold

This multi-system approach allows us to identify exactly what's driving your symptoms — and target treatment precisely, rather than guessing.

Treatment tailored to athletes

Our treatment approach is designed around one goal: getting you back to your sport as quickly and safely as possible.

• Vestibular rehabilitation — gaze stabilization, habituation exercises, and dynamic balance retraining designed to meet the demands of sport
• Cervical spine treatment — manual therapy and exercise for any whiplash or neck dysfunction contributing to symptoms
• Sub-symptom aerobic exercise — structured cardiovascular conditioning that keeps you fit while respecting your symptom threshold
• Sport-specific progressions — reintroducing the physical demands of your sport in a controlled, graduated way before returning to full contact
• Return-to-sport documentation — we provide written clearance documentation consistent with Ontario's Rowan's Law requirements where applicable

Rowan's Law and return-to-sport clearance

Ontario's Rowan's Law requires that athletes suspected of having a concussion be removed from sport and follow a graduated return-to-sport protocol before returning to contact or full activity. For athletes under 26 involved in organized sport, a healthcare provider must provide written clearance before return to contact.

Our physiotherapists are trained in the graduated return-to-sport protocol and can provide the clinical assessment and documentation your sport organization requires. If you or your child has been removed from play following a concussion, we can help ensure the return process is handled safely and meets all applicable requirements.

How quickly can I be seen?

We aim to offer assessment appointments within a few days of injury. Early assessment — ideally within the first week — gives us the best window to identify what's affected and begin treatment before symptoms become entrenched.

No referral is needed. You can book directly online or call us at 905-635-5711. We see patients from Burlington, Oakville, Hamilton, Milton, and across Halton Region.