Every winter and summer sporting season across the Mornington Peninsula, junior athletes take to the field for football, netball, basketball and cricket. Along with the fun and fitness comes a real risk of head knocks, and with it, a surprising amount of misinformation about what concussion actually is and how it should be managed.
Some of these myths are decades old and still get repeated on the sideline. Others sound like common sense but don’t match what current concussion guidelines tell us. For parents, coaches and club volunteers in McCrae, Dromana, Rosebud, Rye and surrounding areas, knowing fact from fiction can make a genuine difference to how a young athlete is supported after a knock.
Myth: You have to be knocked out to have a concussion
This is one of the most persistent and potentially dangerous myths. Loss of consciousness only occurs in a small proportion of concussions. Most young athletes remain fully conscious and may even keep playing, showing symptoms like headache, dizziness, confusion, or simply “not looking right” rather than being knocked out cold. Waiting for a knockout as the trigger for concern means many genuine concussions go unrecognised.
Myth: If there’s no obvious symptom straight away, it’s fine to keep playing
Symptoms can take minutes, hours, or occasionally longer to become noticeable. An athlete might feel “a bit off” immediately after a collision, then develop a headache, nausea, or trouble concentrating later that day. This is why current guidelines, including the AFL concussion guidelines and Complete Concussions (CCMI) frameworks that our osteopaths are trained in, recommend erring on the side of caution: if in doubt, sit them out.
Myth: A CT scan or X-ray will show if it’s a concussion
Concussion is a functional injury rather than a structural one, meaning standard imaging like CT scans and X-rays typically appear normal even with a genuine concussion. Imaging is important for ruling out more serious injuries such as bleeds or fractures, but it isn’t designed to diagnose concussion itself. Recognising concussion relies on clinical assessment, symptom tracking, and appropriate concussion testing rather than a scan alone.
Myth: Rest in a dark room until all symptoms disappear is the best approach
Older advice leaned heavily on strict rest until symptom-free. Current thinking, reflected in modern concussion guidelines, favours a short period of relative rest followed by a gradual, graded return to light activity as tolerated, guided by a suitably trained clinician. Prolonged total rest isn’t necessarily helpful and may not support recovery as well as once believed. This is exactly the kind of individualised decision that benefits from professional guidance rather than a one-size-fits-all rule.
Myth: Once symptoms are gone, it’s safe to return to full contact sport
Feeling normal again is an encouraging sign, but symptom resolution is only one part of a broader picture. Many concussion frameworks recommend a staged return-to-sport progression, with each stage building tolerance to exertion and monitoring for symptom recurrence, alongside consideration of school or work return first. This staged approach is designed to support informed decision-making around a young athlete’s return, rather than promising that any process can guarantee no further injury will occur. This is where structured concussion testing on the Mornington Peninsula can support families and clubs working through this process.
Why myths like these matter for local clubs
Junior sport is a big part of community life across the Peninsula, and coaches and team managers are often the first to notice when something seems wrong with a player. Believing outdated myths can mean a young athlete returns to play before they’re ready, or that a genuine concussion is dismissed because it doesn’t match the “knocked out cold” picture many people still expect.
- Concussion doesn’t require loss of consciousness to be genuine
- Symptoms can be delayed, so post-match check-ins matter
- Standard imaging won’t confirm or rule out concussion on its own
- Total rest isn’t automatically the best recovery strategy
- Symptom-free doesn’t automatically mean ready for full contact
Our osteopaths at The Seaside Osteo in McCrae are trained through Complete Concussions (CCMI), giving them a structured framework for assessment that supports families and clubs in making informed decisions after a head knock. If your club, school or family would like to learn more about recognising concussion, our free concussion workshop is a practical starting point, and our page on conditions we treat outlines the broader range of support available.
Understanding the facts around concussion doesn’t replace individual clinical assessment, but it does help parents and coaches ask better questions and seek appropriate care sooner rather than later.
Frequently asked questions
Does a young athlete need to lose consciousness for it to be a real concussion?
No. Most concussions do not involve loss of consciousness. Symptoms like headache, dizziness, confusion, sensitivity to light, or simply seeming ‘off’ are far more common indicators and should be taken seriously.
Can a scan confirm whether my child has a concussion?
Standard scans like CT or X-ray usually appear normal after a concussion because it is a functional injury rather than a structural one. Imaging is mainly used to rule out more serious injuries, while concussion itself is assessed clinically.
How soon after a head knock should a young athlete be assessed?
As soon as possible after any suspected head injury, and definitely before returning to training or play. Early assessment helps guide safe next steps, including whether further rest or a graded return process is appropriate.
Is complete rest until all symptoms disappear still the recommended approach?
Current concussion guidelines generally favour a short period of relative rest followed by a gradual, monitored return to light activity, rather than prolonged total rest. An appropriately trained clinician can help guide this process for an individual athlete.
Does clearing concussion testing guarantee a young athlete won’t be injured again?
No testing or assessment process can guarantee future safety. Concussion testing and staged return-to-sport frameworks are designed to support informed decision-making, not to eliminate risk entirely.
Concussion testing on the Mornington Peninsula
To learn more or arrange concussion testing, assessment or return-to-play support, visit our concussion testing page or book an appointment online with The Seaside Osteo in McCrae.
This article is general information for Mornington Peninsula families and is not a substitute for individual medical assessment. If you suspect a concussion, seek advice from a qualified health practitioner, and call 000 if there are emergency warning signs.