CAC Baseline Concussion Testing Sign Up Information

CAC Baseline Concussion Testing

August 11 &12

U11/U13/U15

Time: 6 to 8 pm

August 18 & 19 

U16/U17/U18

Time: 6 to 8 pm

Where: CAC HALL Bring: Cell phone with wifi access Wear: shorts and t-shirt, runners, no ball caps/hats

August 21 

All Divisions

Time: 6 to 7:30 pm

Where: CAC HALL Bring: Cell phone with wifi access Wear: shorts and t-shirt, runners, no ball caps/hats

August 26

All Divisions

Time: 3:45 to 5:45 pm

Where: CAC HALL Bring: Cell phone with wifi access Wear: shorts and t-shirt, runners, no ball caps/hats

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Concussion Baseline Information
CAC 2025-2026 SEASON

Why does CAC have baseline concussion testing?

Baseline concussion testing is done before the sports season starts, including tryouts, to establish a record of an athlete’s normal cognitive and physical function. This allows for comparison with post-injury results if a concussion occurs, aiding in accurate diagnosis and determining safe return to play.

Baseline concussion testing is done in the upstairs CAC large hall prior to any tryouts. It is conducted by the Head Trainer and other team trainers. Our medical provider, Andrew, from Pulse Health, is in attendance as well for all athletes to see and meet, so your athletes are familiar with him. We do large age-based groups at a time so we can test multiple athletes at one time. This baseline test is used to assess an athlete’s balance and cognition using the Sway platform. This test typically takes 20-25 minutes to complete.

Why is baseline testing important?

Accurate Diagnosis - baseline tests provide a reference point to compare against post-injury test results, helping our trainers and medical professionals determine the severity of the concussion.

Personalized Treatment - by understanding the athlete’s baseline, treatment plans can be tailored to their individual needs and recovery progress.

Early Detection - baseline testing helps in identifying subtle changes in the brain function that might not be noticeable through observation alone, leading to earlier detection of concussions.
Reduced Risk of Long-Term Complications - ensuring full recovery before returning to play reduces the risk of long-term complications associated with repeated concussions.

What is a concussion?

A concussion is a form of brain injury that causes a temporary disturbance in how the brain functions. Concussions can happen because of a hit, bump or blow to the head or elsewhere on
the body. This impact causes the brain to move back and forth inside the skull.

Why are U11 players included for concussion baseline testing?

At CAC, we take our safety program very seriously, no matter the age of all athletes participating in our club. A concussion is an injury to the brain, and we want all athletes to have a healthy and safe experience in their time with CAC. We want to treat each team equally and have all teams have the same access to our treatment tools and resources, no matter the age.

While the U11 group does not have “hitting,” there is still contact at this level. This can be through player collisions, board collisions, a stick to the helmet, falling to the ice after a trip, striking head on the ice, or crashing into the boards unexpectedly or awkwardly.

Who is Pulse Health?

Pulse Health is owned and operated by Dr Andrew Blonski, who is a chiropractor with specialized training for concussions. Pulse Health will be our sole provider who will be treating our athletes, as we want to have consistency, strong communication, strong focus on the athlete, immediate access to treatment, and under one umbrella versus using multiple providers and chasing information, treatment, and lack of communication and access. It also allows for consistency for our entire club and trainers using the tools and provider who is committed to healthy return to play guidelines and open communication with all parties, including athletes, parents, trainers, coaches/safety personnel, and the Head Trainer. Pulse Health will be responsible for all treatment and will develop a return-to-play protocol for each athlete.

What is the Sway Platform?

The Sway platform is a mobile application used by thousands of organizations and trainers for balance and cognitive testing throughout baseline testing, sideline evaluations, and the return-to-learn and return-to-play processes.

The Sway platform/APP is a measurement tool for athletes, trainers, and medical providers. It does not replace the human aspect of concussion guideline assessments; it is simply an extra tool to be used. Each test is individualized for the athlete. Access to the test is accessible by the trainer/Head Trainer and Medical Provider. The coaches and trainers have immediate access to results on the bench and can also run mini-tests that take less than 5 minutes.

What is the cost?

There is no upfront cost to performing the baseline concussion test. Once a team has been formalized, then our service provider will be paid accordingly. There is no out-of-pocket fee for this test. However, if your athlete is released from CAC, you do have the option to purchase the baseline concussion test results directly from Pulse Health and take those results with you to another club. The cost is $65.00 and is to be paid directly to Pulse Health. The complete test includes baseline concussion testing and the vestibular test that is performed once the team is finalized. A midway test is also completed for comparison purposes. There is no cost to use the Sway platform. Pulse Health is in agreement that the test is valid for up to 1 year, which means it is good for the entire hockey season AND for any other sport your athlete may play with over the summer months.

What does the athlete need prior to the test?

Make sure they have access to wifi and a fully charged cell phone. Download the Sway APP, but do not sign in, as a special age code will be provided. Trainers will be there to help athletes fill in the information as well, and there will be some questions to answer prior to starting. Parents can assist with this as well, but during the actual test, parents will be asked to wait downstairs. Wear comfortable clothes, and testing will be completed with no shoes on. Please remove all headgear, including hats or touques. The test will take 20-25 minutes. If you cannot attend the sessions as outlined, please advise the Head Trainer. Testing must be completed prior to attending tryouts. Age groups can mix; however, we would like the same age groups together as much as possible. Those athletes who did not attend tryouts, as coming from other clubs to CAC, will have to participate in testing at a later date.