Sports Concussion Program
857-282-3300
Comprehensive concussion care for athletes and active individuals
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury caused by a blow to the head or body. While common in sports and recreational activities, concussions affect each person differently and require individualized care.
Mass General Brigham Sports Medicine provides coordinated concussion evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation across Boston and New England. Our multidisciplinary team focuses on healing the whole athlete by addressing physical symptoms, cognitive function, emotional health, and safe return to daily activities.
What to expect at your concussion evaluation
Most concussions do not result in a loss of consciousness, which is why symptoms can sometimes be subtle and require careful evaluation and follow‑up.
We work closely with patients, families, schools, coaches, and referring providers from evaluation and diagnosis through recovery.
A Mass General Brigham concussion evaluation typically includes:
- Physical and neurological examination
- Balance and vestibular testing
- Vision and eye-movement assessment
- Cognitive testing evaluating memory and attention
- Education about concussion therapy, recovery and activity progression
- Referrals to rehabilitation, behavioral, or other health specialists when needed
We monitor your recovery closely and adjust recommended treatments as symptoms change.
Common concussion symptoms
Symptoms of a concussion can appear immediately or develop over several hours or days.
These include:
- Headache or pressure in the head
- Dizziness or balance problems
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sensitivity to light or noise
- Blurred or double vision
- Difficulty concentrating or remembering
- Slowed thinking or reaction time
- Sleep changes or fatigue
- Irritability, anxiety, or mood changes
If symptoms worsen or do not improve, evaluation by a concussion specialist is important.
Personalized treatment and rehabilitation
Treatment is individualized based on symptoms and recovery progress and may include:
- Graduated return-to-activity planning
- Vestibular and balance therapy
- Vision therapy
- Exercise-based concussion rehabilitation
- Headache management strategies
- Cognitive pacing and academic accommodations
- Sleep and stress management support
- Sport psychology and mental health care
Our goal is your safe recovery while helping you remain engaged in school, work, and daily life whenever possible. Beyond recovery, we support your return to performance, helping you safely rebuild strength and get back to the level you were at before.
Our approach to concussion recovery
Concussion recovery involves more than just rest. In fact, too much rest may even prolong the recovery. Our team provides coordinated care tailored to each patient’s symptoms and goals.
Your care team may include specialists in:
- Sports medicine
- Neurology and sports neurology
- Physical medicine and rehabilitation (physiatry)
- Neuropsychology
- Clinical psychology and sport psychology
- Vestibular and physical therapy
We work closely with each other and with you to create a personalized recovery plan focused on your safety and long-term brain health.
Recovery from concussion is a step-by-step process. Our specialists guide patients through structured return-to-learn and return-to-play protocols based on current medical evidence.
We collaborate with:
- Schools and academic support teams
- Athletic trainers and coaches
- Parents and caregivers
- Employers when needed
Clear communication helps ensure recovery progresses safely and confidently.
Concussions can affect emotional wellbeing as well as physical performance. Patients may experience anxiety, mood changes, frustration, or difficulty adjusting during recovery.
Our sport psychology and mental health specialists work alongside medical providers to support emotional recovery, coping strategies, and confidence during return-to-activity. This integrated approach helps patients recover both cognitively and psychologically.
Our orthopedic and sports medicine specialists
857-282-3300
Kaylin’s patient story
Four concussions haven't kept this student-athlete from the sports she loves
Read Kaylin’s story
Read how she safely returned to her sport
Contact the Sports Concussion Program
857-282-3300
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Contact information for international patients