Continuing education for concussion and post-concussion syndrome is a must for Physical Therapists (and Physiotherapists). This post breaks down the best concussion management training courses for PTs to allow you to make better decisions.

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Concussion Courses Online vs. In-person?

Physical therapists who seek to expand their knowledge and skills may be undecided about whether to opt for an online course or a traditional in-person educational experience.

Online courses offer convenience, allowing medical professionals to take classes from the comfort of their own home or office space, potentially saving time and energy that would otherwise be spent driving (or flying) back and forth, and staying in hotels for in-person lectures or seminars.

These digital environments also encourage an individualized approach to learning with access to easily integrated multimedia content such as video lectures, articles, and assessments.

On the other hand, clinicians may benefit from building relationships with fellow professionals by attending traditional in-person classes.

An important part of medical education is interacting directly with instructors while problem-solving using practice equipment available on-site, experiences which are difficult to replicate online. However, if a course creator has thought this through, the online environment can be just as good.

Physical therapists should keep this in mind when considering the pros and cons of both types of courses before deciding on which concussion management course to take part in.

The Benefits of Taking a Concussion Treatment Course

Physical Therapists (Physiotherapists in many parts of the world) play an invaluable role when it comes to treating and rehabilitating patients suffering from concussion-related ailments.

A recent systematic review paper published in the International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy found that adding Physical Activity and Rehabilitative Physical Therapy resulted in significant reductions in post-concussion symptoms, allowed for faster return to sports, and shorter days to recovery.

“adding Physical Activity and Rehabilitative Physical Therapy resulted in significant reductions in post-concussion symptoms, allowed for faster return to sports, and shorter days to recovery.”

Adding concussion treatment and rehabilitation services to your practice can help to significantly improve patient care while also providing increased patient flow due to the rapidly increasing demand for evidence-based concussion evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation strategies over the past 10 years.

PTs now have access to a wide range of specialized courses to deepen their knowledge on how best to evaluate and provide treatment strategies to concussion, post-concussion syndrome, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy patients; allowing them to provide more comprehensive care and better results.

Physiotherapists looking to undertake relevant training courses should ensure that they are learning and incorporating the highest quality of care while also taking advantage of the growing demand for rehabilitation services related to concussion injuries.

Macro photo of tooth wheel mechanism with SKILL TRAINING, EDUCATION, LEARNING, ABILITY, KNOWLEDGE and COMPETENCE words imprinted on metal surface

How to Choose the Right Concussion Course for You

The scientific evidence concerning concussion management and concussion treatment continues to rapidly evolve and is becoming more and more multidisciplinary.

Treating a mild traumatic brain injury is not just about vestibular rehabilitation or the cervical spine anymore, but it is about understanding the physiology behind the injury and what is happening at a systemic level.

All healthcare providers including Medical Doctors, PTs, Athletic Trainers, Occupational Therapists, Chiropractors, and Neuropsychologists need to stay at the front of this knowledge curve so they can provide better outcomes in their clinical practice.

To find the right concussion course, physical therapists should look for evidence-based information from trusted sources with multidisciplinary instructors and collaborative care opportunities that include experts in fields such as neurology, sports medicine, physical therapy, occupational therapy, vestibular therapy, neuro-optometry, and functional medicine.

Concussion management courses should be comprehensive, covering all aspects of diagnosis, assessment, management, rehabilitation strategies, and return-to-play criteria. Physical therapists need to make sure their course selection will provide them with the latest evidenced-based information from a wide variety of peer-reviewed sources across multiple medical and allied health domains.

 

Top 5 Concussion Management Courses for Physical Therapists

  1. Complete Concussion Management Training Course for Physical Therapists (PTs, DCs, and ATs)

  2. ImPACT Trained Physical Therapist (ITPT)

  3. Evidence in Motion

  4. Shift

  5. Concussion Rehab Works

#1 Most comprehensive course for Physical Therapists and Physiotherapists

Complete Concussion Management Training Course for Physical Therapists (PTs, DCs, and ATs)

PriceInstructorsDelivery MethodLengthCEUsValue
$1999Multidisciplinary (Sports Chiropractor, Vestibular PT, Naturopathic Doctor, Neurologist, Neuro-Optometrist)100% Online57.5 hrs lecture content
(click button below for course itinerary)		57.5+$34.17/hr of content

Click here for 20% Off this course!

 

This is the BIG DADDY! Concussion rehabilitation is an incredibly important field of study and the Complete Concussion Management Training Course for Physical Therapists provides the most comprehensive coverage on the subject by far!

This 100% online training course is taught by a multidisciplinary instructor panel of experts in neurology, sports chiropractic, vestibular rehabilitation, neuro-optometry, and functional medicine.

The Complete Concussions Training course is only available in English but is available everywhere in the world including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

The course, which applies to sport-related concussion as well as non-athlete populations (motor vehicle accidents, workplace, etc.), covers over 2000 of the most recent scientific references and is always being updated to reflect the latest research.

In addition to the content being determined by a robust medical advisory board and Ph.D. research team, there are multiple courses available depending on your field.

There are courses available for Occupational Therapists, PTs, Chiropractors, Athletic Trainers, Physicians & Specialists, and Functional Medicine/Naturopathic Doctors.

Best of all, it’s designed for both beginners and advanced clinicians alike – all you need is presented in one level instead of multiple levels.

Once the course objectives and final examination have been completed, you are presented with a certificate and can have your clinic listed as a Certified Complete Concussion Management Treatment Facility.

As a certified location, you also get access to their proprietary online patient portal with all the relevant outcome measures, tests, assessment & evaluation tools which communicate with a patient smartphone app.

This app is a game-changer for sport-related concussion and is a big advantage for forging partnerships with local schools and sports clubs.

They say you get what you pay for, but this cost-effective course offers so much more – as part of their course objectives, you get the latest evidence-based information on:

  • Concussion signs and symptoms and how to identify complex issues
  • Biomechanics & Pathophysiology of acute concussion (metabolic, blood flow, etc.)
  • Baseline testing for sports-related concussions and the use of evidence-based tools
  • Sideline assessment strategies for the athletic trainer or team physio
  • Clinical evaluation skills for the acute patient including neurological examination and ruling out red-flags
  • Diet, nutrition, hormones, & gut to reduce inflammation and optimize recovery
  • Active recovery strategies including the Buffalo Concussion Treadmill test and the Chicago Blackhawks test
  • Clinical trajectories to identify the 5 main specific drivers of persistent signs and symptoms
  • Vestibular examination and diagnosis (taught by one of the top vestibular specialists in the country)
  • Ocular evaluation and strategies (taught by a prominent neuro-optometrist who works with one of the top North American sports franchises)
  • In-depth cervical spine evaluation and treatment
  • Autonomic nervous system dysregulation and treatment strategies
  • The latest evidence on Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)
  • and so much more…

The Complete Concussion Management course is THE one-stop shop for a comprehensive online learning experience to learn everything there is to know about concussion and receive ongoing access to cutting-edge tools and tests to help with clinical evaluation, clinical decision-making, and patient flow.

This is why the Complete Concussions program ranks #1 on our list.

Click here for 20% Off this course!

#2 CONCUSSION COURSE

ImPACT Trained Physical Therapist (ITPT)

PriceInstructorsDelivery MethodLengthCEUsValue
$349Unknown100% Online7.25 hrs7.25$48.13/hr of content

 

The ImPACT Concussion Course is a quick 7.25 hour program that is designed to help clinicians gain an understanding of how to use the ImPACT Concussion tool in their practice.

  • The course is relatively basic, so topics such as pathophysiology and biomechanics are not covered as in-depth as they are in other courses.
  • Multiple presenters are used throughout the lectures and they provide short but effective lessons with clear explanations.
  • At only $349, this course provides an inexpensive way for clinicians to gain awareness of concussion rehabilitation strategies and the utilization of the ImPACT test for Concussion care.
  • It’s important to note, however, that additional training beyond this course will be required if you are looking to provide concussion management services.
  • This course is best suited for clinicians who already have some knowledge of Concussion treatment but want to add the ImPACT test into their clinical practice.
#3 CONCUSSION COURSE

Evidence in Motion

PriceInstructorsDelivery MethodLengthCEUsValue
$600Physical TherapistsHybrid2 days (in-person)24$25/hr of content

 

The Evidence in Motion Concussion Course, for $600, is a two-day hybrid course that focuses largely on acute concussion care and return to play.

  • There is an online component and an in-person component which, depending on the date, time, and location it’s held, may involve additional travel, hotel fees, and other costs that the physical therapist should consider.
  • During the first day, participants will learn strategies around acute concussion care and baseline testing while the second day covers clinical trajectories and associated management paths.
  • It is difficult to determine from their website who the course instructors are, however, it seems that the entire faculty is PT rather than the multidisciplinary approach ideally found when managing concussion rehabilitation. There is no course outline available.
#4 CONCUSSION COURSE

Shift

PriceInstructorsDelivery MethodLengthCEUsValue
$1408.50
(Levels I & II)		Multidisciplinary (Osteopathy, Chiropractic, Physiotherapy, Optometry, and Psychiatry)100% Online21.5Unknown$67.07/hr of content

 

Shift Concussion Course offers a comprehensive curriculum for concussion professionals to learn the basics of concussion rehabilitation and treatment.

The Shift Concussion Course is offered in two levels — Level 1 and Level 2.

Level 1

  • focuses on best practices in concussion management, covering topics such as post-concussion syndrome, rest and activity levels, cervicogenic considerations, and vestibular-ocular evaluation and treatment among other things.
  • Level 1 has seven hours of instruction and costs $448 with access for three weeks.
  • Additionally, the course boasts a multidisciplinary faculty composed of doctors from osteopathy, optometry, chiropractic, physiotherapy, and psychiatry.

Level 2

  • further dives into concussion education with five separate sections totaling 14.5 hours for $960.50. Purchasing both courses together can also save you 15% off the combined total.
  • Similar to the Complete Concussions program, after successful completion, you receive invitations to join the Concussion Provider network. However Shift, unlike Complete Concussions, does not offer access to patient software or applications.
  • Head-to-head comparison between the Shift courses and the Complete Concussions courses from clinicians who’ve done both will likely tell you that the Complete Concussions course is much more in-depth.
  • Overall the Shift courses are fairly comprehensive and offer a worthwhile opportunity to develop a fundamental knowledge of concussions professionally.
#5 Concussion Course

Concussion Rehab Works

PriceInstructorsDelivery MethodLengthCEUsValue
$904
(Levels I & II)		Physical TherapistIn-Person/Live Webinar1 day per levelUnknown$45.20/hr of content

 

Concussion Rehab Works Course is an easy way to get started on your concussion assessment and rehabilitation journey.

  • It offers both Level 1 and Level 2 courses, which can be taken either in-person or online via webinar/ live-stream.
  • Despite being only one day long, each level is packed with basic yet informative material, offering an accessible introduction to the world of concussion treatment.
  • All levels can be purchased for $904 and you get access to the recordings of the lessons for six weeks.
  • It seems that this course focuses very much on the Canadian system with references to Ontario Neurotrauma foundation and most course dates being in Canada.
  • This course covers signs and symptoms, assessment, examination & rehabilitation techniques for the cervical spine, vestibular system, and ocular system.
#6 Bonus Course

University of Calgary MOOC

The University of Calgary Concussion MOOC is an open, online program designed to increase awareness and education about Concussion and concussion rehabilitation.

  • It is a great resource for healthcare professionals, sports coaches, parents, and school administrators to gain an understanding on Concussion-related matters.
  • This program however is very general and basic with not a ton of in-depth information on pathophysiology or biomechanics, and will not provide the physical therapist with the ability to perform a comprehensive assessment
  • This program also doesn’t go into great detail on concussion examination, rehabilitation, how to identify cervical, vestibular, or ocular issues, or how to clear athletes for return to play.
  • The MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) offers basic education about Concussions for anyone who wants to learn more about the subject.
  • It is available for free once per year online via live stream and recording. The next date posted is for spring 2023. The program lasts for seven weeks and covers around 10 hours of total lecture time, the Concussion MOOC is a valuable opportunity that should not be missed.

Comparison of the Top 5 Concussion Courses for Physical Therapists

RankCoursePriceInstructorsDelivery MethodLengthCEUsValue
1Complete Concussions Training Course for Physical Therapists (PT, DC, AT, etc.)$1999Multidisciplinary (Neurology, Sports Chiropractic, Neuro-Optometry, Vestibular PT, Naturopathic & Functional Medicine)Online57.5 Hrs57.5+$34.17/hr of content
(also ability for testing software and certified provider listing)
Click here for 20% Off this course!
2.ImPACT Trained Physical Therapist (ITPT)$349UnknownOnline7.25 hrs7.25$48.13/hr of content
3.Evidence in Motion$600Physical TherapistsHybrid2 days
(in-person)		24$25/hr of content
4.Shift Concussion Management$1408.50
(Levels I & II)		Multidisciplinary (Osteopathy, Chiropractic, Physiotherapy, Optometry, and Psychiatry)100% Online21.5Unknown$67.07/hr of content
5.Concussion Rehab Works$904
(Levels I & II)		Physical TherapistIn-Person/Live Webinar1 day per levelUnknown$45.20/hr of content
BonusUniversity of Calgary MOOCFreePT & MDOnline10 hours over 7 weeks0Free

Final Thoughts

The bottom line is that Physical Therapy is quickly becoming one of the mainstays of concussion management and treatment, despite most academic PT programs having little to no education on the topic.  It is therefore important that PT’s seek out continuing education programs in order to receive this education in order to use their skills to help service this rapidly growing population.