A concussion diagnosis is rarely the hardest part for families — it’s what happens in the weeks afterward that raises the most questions. How long should rest last? When can a young athlete go back to training? Who decides they’re ready for full contact again?
Concussion recovery isn’t a single event, it’s a process that moves through recognised stages. Understanding these stages helps parents, coaches and community clubs across the Mornington Peninsula support a young athlete’s recovery calmly and appropriately, rather than guessing or rushing things along.
Stage One: Initial Rest and Symptom Monitoring
In the first 24 to 48 hours following a suspected concussion, the focus is on relative rest and close observation. This doesn’t mean complete isolation in a dark room — current guidance, including frameworks used by Complete Concussions (CCMI), favours short periods of rest followed by a gradual, gentle return to light activity as symptoms allow. Screen time, schoolwork and physical exertion are typically reduced during this early window while headache, dizziness, nausea, fatigue and concentration difficulties are monitored.
Any worsening symptoms, repeated vomiting, unusual drowsiness or confusion during this stage warrant urgent medical review. This early phase sets the foundation for everything that follows, which is why proper concussion testing on the Mornington Peninsula soon after the injury can help establish a clear baseline for tracking recovery.
Stage Two: Gradual Return to Light Activity
Once symptoms begin to settle, a young athlete can usually start reintroducing light activity such as walking or gentle stationary cycling. This stage is about testing the waters — seeing whether low-level exertion brings symptoms back. If it does, that’s useful information, not a setback to panic over. It simply means more time is needed before progressing.
School return often happens in this stage too, sometimes with modifications like shortened days, extra breaks or reduced workload. Communication between parents, teachers and the treating practitioner helps keep everyone aligned on what the young person can currently manage.
Stage Three: Sport-Specific Training Without Contact
As tolerance for light activity improves, the next stage introduces sport-specific movement — running patterns, ball skills, agility drills — but without any risk of head contact or collision. This applies across the range of community sports played on the Peninsula, from netball and basketball through to non-contact football and cricket drills.
The purpose here is to reintroduce coordination, decision-making under fatigue and cardiovascular load in a controlled way. Symptoms are checked before and after each session, and progression only continues if the athlete tolerates the increased demand without a return of concussion symptoms.
Stage Four: Non-Contact Training Drills
This stage increases training intensity and complexity, incorporating more resistance training and coordination challenges, still without contact. It’s a bridge between general fitness work and the physical demands of full training, and it’s often where subtle issues — such as balance deficits or delayed reaction time — become more apparent under fatigue.
Clubs and coaches play an important role here. Sharing information about training load and observed performance with the family and treating practitioner supports a more complete picture of readiness than symptom reports alone.
Stage Five: Full Contact Practice
Only once a young athlete has moved through the earlier stages without symptom recurrence does full-contact practice come into consideration. This stage is typically approved following clinical reassessment, which may include a review of balance, cognitive function and symptom history alongside the athlete’s own report of how they’re feeling.
Because every recovery timeline is individual, there’s no fixed number of days that applies to everyone. Ongoing concussion testing throughout recovery helps track whether an athlete is progressing appropriately through each stage, rather than relying on time alone as a marker of readiness.
Stage Six: Return to Competition
The final stage is a return to full competitive play. This decision is generally supported by clearance from an appropriately trained practitioner, taking into account the athlete’s symptom-free progression through each preceding stage, clinical assessment findings and — for younger athletes in particular — a more conservative approach given the still-developing brain.
It’s worth noting that a graded return-to-play framework is designed to support informed decision-making, not to guarantee an injury-free future. Concussion history and individual factors mean risk can never be reduced to zero, which is why ongoing monitoring matters even after full clearance.
Why the Stages Matter for Local Families and Clubs
Skipping stages or returning to sport too quickly is one of the more common concerns raised by parents and coaches across Dromana, Rosebud, Rye and surrounding areas. A structured, stage-by-stage approach exists precisely to reduce this temptation, replacing guesswork with a clear, evidence-informed pathway.
If your child, athlete or club needs support navigating a concussion recovery, our osteopathy team in McCrae is trained through the Complete Concussions (CCMI) framework and can help guide assessment and recovery planning alongside other health providers as part of a broader approach to conditions we treat.
Frequently asked questions
How long does concussion recovery usually take?
Recovery timelines vary significantly between individuals, and there’s no single expected duration. Most young people progress through the stages over a period of days to a few weeks, though some take longer, particularly with previous concussion history or ongoing symptoms.
Can my child go straight back to full training once symptoms are gone?
No. Being symptom-free at rest is only the starting point for a graded return-to-play process. Each stage needs to be tolerated without symptoms returning before progressing to the next, which is why a structured framework rather than a single check-in is recommended.
Who can clear an athlete to return to contact sport?
Clearance decisions are generally best made by an appropriately trained health practitioner familiar with recognised concussion guidelines, taking into account the athlete’s full recovery history and current assessment findings, rather than by a coach, parent or the athlete alone.
Does concussion testing prevent future concussions?
No form of testing can prevent a concussion from occurring or guarantee a completely safe return to sport. Testing and structured assessment are tools that support informed decisions about recovery and readiness, alongside broader injury-prevention practices.
What if symptoms come back during the return-to-play stages?
If symptoms return at any stage, the general guidance is to step back to the previous stage and allow further recovery time before trying again. This is a normal part of the process and doesn’t necessarily indicate a serious setback, but it should be discussed with the treating practitioner.
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.