When a knock to the head happens at training, on the football or netball court, or during a weekend ride around the Mornington Peninsula, the days that follow can feel confusing. Parents and coaches are often unsure what actually needs to happen next, and what information will be useful once an appointment is booked.
Turning up prepared can make a real difference to how thorough and useful a concussion appointment is. The more context your osteopath has about the incident and the days since, the better placed they are to support your decision-making around recovery and return to activity. Here is a practical guide to what is worth bringing along, whether you are heading in for the first visit or a follow-up as part of concussion testing on the Mornington Peninsula.
Details of the Incident Itself
Try to jot down as much as you can remember about how the injury happened, ideally while it is still fresh. This does not need to be a formal report, a few notes on your phone are enough.
- The date, time and setting (training, a game, school sport, recreation)
- How the impact occurred, for example a collision with another player, a fall, or a knock from equipment or a ball
- Whether there was any loss of consciousness, even briefly
- Any immediate symptoms noticed at the time, such as confusion, balance issues, headache or nausea
- Whether the person was removed from play and by whom
If a coach, first-aider or club official completed an incident report, bring a copy or photo of it. Many junior sports clubs across the Peninsula, from local AFL and netball clubs to football (soccer) and cricket associations, now use standardised concussion recognition tools on the sideline, and this paperwork is genuinely useful context for your osteopath.
A Symptom Timeline
Concussion symptoms often shift over the hours and days following an injury, so a simple timeline is one of the most valuable things you can bring. Note when symptoms appeared, whether they have improved, stayed the same or worsened, and what seems to bring them on.
- Headache, dizziness, nausea or sensitivity to light and noise
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering things or following conversations
- Sleep changes, whether that is trouble falling asleep or feeling unusually tired
- Mood changes such as irritability, low mood or increased anxiety
- Any symptoms that flare up with screen time, reading, physical activity or busy environments
This kind of tracking helps your osteopath understand the pattern of recovery rather than a single snapshot, which supports more informed conversations about pacing return to school, work and sport.
Medical and Health History
Concussion recovery can be influenced by a person’s broader health background, so it helps to bring along relevant history rather than assume it is already on file.
- Any previous concussions or head injuries, including approximate dates and how long recovery took
- Existing conditions such as migraines, anxiety, ADHD or learning difficulties, which can sometimes interact with concussion symptoms
- Current medications and supplements
- Any neck, jaw or vestibular (balance) issues, since these areas are closely linked with concussion presentations
Sharing this openly is not about ticking boxes, it genuinely shapes how your osteopath approaches assessment and the questions they ask.
Sporting or School Context
Bring information about the demands the person will be returning to, since this context supports realistic, staged planning.
- The sport, position and level of play, along with training and game schedule
- Any upcoming assessments, exams or key school commitments
- Contact details for a coach or team manager if a graduated return-to-sport plan needs to be communicated to the club
Our osteopaths are trained through the Complete Concussions (CCMI) framework, which uses a structured, evidence-informed approach to assessment. Having this contextual information on hand allows any graduated return-to-activity plan to be tailored around real commitments rather than guesswork.
Questions You Want Answered
It is easy to forget questions once you are in the room, so writing them down beforehand is worthwhile. Common questions parents and coaches bring include when a graduated return to sport might reasonably begin, what warning signs mean a young athlete should be reassessed sooner, and how school workload might need to be adjusted in the meantime.
An initial concussion assessment is one part of an ongoing process, not a single pass-or-fail test, and testing is used to support informed decisions rather than to guarantee a safe return to play. If you are still deciding where to seek care, our page on concussion assessment and management outlines what a typical appointment involves and how our clinic approaches ongoing monitoring.
Bringing It All Together
You do not need every detail perfectly organised. Even rough notes about the incident, a general sense of how symptoms have progressed, and an understanding of upcoming sporting or school demands will help your osteopath build a clearer picture. Concussion care often sits alongside other musculoskeletal considerations, particularly around the neck, and our broader osteopathy services can support recovery if related stiffness or discomfort is present. If you are unsure whether a presentation warrants review, our page on conditions we treat gives a wider sense of the areas our clinic supports for families across McCrae, Dromana, Rosebud and Rye.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a referral to book a concussion appointment?
A referral is not usually required to book a concussion assessment, though some private health funds may have their own requirements. If you are unsure, it is worth checking with your GP or your health fund before your visit.
How soon after a knock to the head should we book an appointment?
It is generally best to seek assessment as soon as practical after any suspected concussion, even if symptoms seem mild initially. Early assessment helps establish a baseline and supports appropriate monitoring in the days that follow.
What if we don’t have all the information the clinic asks for?
That is completely normal, and you should not delay booking while trying to gather every detail. Bring whatever you have, and your osteopath will ask further questions during the appointment to fill in the gaps.
Can I bring my child’s coach or a support person into the appointment?
Yes, having a coach, teacher or another support person present can be helpful, particularly if they witnessed the incident or can speak to training and school demands. It is entirely up to the family what feels most comfortable.
Will one appointment be enough to clear my child for sport?
Concussion recovery is typically monitored over several appointments rather than assessed in a single visit, since symptoms can change over time. A graduated, staged approach is generally used to support informed decisions about returning to sport and school.
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.