Baseline Testing Captures Your Normal Before Injury A baseline concussion test measures your individual brain function when you're healthy, before any concussion occurs. It records your normal scores for memory, processing speed, reaction time, balance, and symptoms. After a concussion, the clinician compares your post-injury scores to your pre-injury baseline to determine the extent of impairment and to track recovery objectively (Broglio et al., 2017). Without baseline testing, clinicians compare post-injury scores to population averages ("normative data"). This works reasonably well but misses individual variation. A person whose pre-injury memory score is in the 90th percentile could drop to the 60th percentile after concussion and still appear "normal" compared to population averages. Baseline testing catches this decline because the comparison is to the individual's own normal, not to an average. Baseline testing is most common in organized sports (high school, college, professional) where athletes have pre-season evaluations. The test is also valuable for military personnel, first responders, and anyone in occupations with head injury risk. Testing takes 20-30 minutes and provides data that remains useful for 1-2 years before retesting is recommended. Components of Baseline Testing Computerized neurocognitive testing. Programs like ImPACT, C3Logix, or Cogstate measure verbal memory, visual memory, processing speed, and reaction time through standardized computer-based tasks. These scores create a cognitive fingerprint unique to each person. Post-injury testing uses the same program to generate directly comparable scores. Symptom inventory. Recording pre-injury symptom levels matters because many people report "baseline symptoms" including occasional headaches, sleep difficulties, or concentration problems from everyday life. Knowing that someone reports baseline headache severity of 2/6 changes interpretation when they report 3/6 post-concussion. Without baseline symptom data, a score of 3/6 might be attributed entirely to concussion when 2/6 was their normal. Balance assessment. The Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) or computerized balance platforms measure postural stability across multiple stance conditions. Balance is affected by concussion and recovers on a different timeline than cognitive function. Baseline balance data enables objective comparison after injury. Vestibular/Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS). Baseline VOMS scores establish normal smooth pursuit, saccade, convergence, and vestibular-ocular reflex function. Some individuals have pre-existing vestibular or oculomotor variations that would be misidentified as concussion-related deficits without baseline data. Cervical assessment. Baseline cervical range of motion, strength, and symptom provocation testing establishes normal neck function. Post-injury cervical deficits are better identified and treated when baseline data exists for comparison. Cervical Baseline Assessment Exercises These exercises serve as both assessment and intervention for cervical function: JME 1 Cervical rotation range of motion establishes baseline rotational mobility. Post-concussion asymmetry or reduction from baseline indicates cervical involvement requiring treatment. JME 14 Chin tuck performance establishes deep cervical flexor baseline strength. Decreased performance post-injury indicates cervical motor control deficits common after whiplash-mechanism injuries. JME 5 Cervical extension range establishes posterior cervical mobility baseline. Restrictions post-injury correlate with occipital headache patterns. JME 6 Cervical flexion range and strength baseline. Post-injury decline indicates anterior cervical dysfunction contributing to post-concussion symptoms. Start your 14-day free trial for cervical mobility programming that supports concussion baseline and recovery assessment. Full Baseline Mobility Assessment JME 3 Lateral flexion baseline captures side-bending mobility. Asymmetry post-injury suggests unilateral cervical dysfunction requiring targeted treatment. JME 42 Shoulder mobility baseline establishes upper quarter function. Post-injury restriction indicates guarding patterns that perpetuate cervicogenic symptoms. JME 150 Thoracic rotation baseline identifies pre-existing stiffness versus post-injury changes. Thoracic mobility loss after head injury increases compensatory cervical strain. JME 153 Upper back extension baseline reveals pre-existing thoracic kyphosis patterns versus post-injury postural changes that affect recovery. When and How to Get Baseline Testing Timing. Baseline testing should occur during pre-season for athletes, before deployment for military personnel, or at the start of employment for high-risk occupations. Testing should not occur within 7 days of a prior concussion, within 24 hours of vigorous exercise, or when the individual is ill, sleep-deprived, or significantly stressed. These factors alter baseline scores and create inaccurate comparison points. Effort and honesty. Baseline testing only works if the individual gives full effort. Some athletes intentionally perform poorly on baseline testing ("sandbagging") to create a low comparison point, hoping they'll appear recovered sooner after concussion. This defeats the purpose entirely and puts the athlete at risk by enabling premature return to play based on falsely low baselines. Retesting schedule. Baseline tests should be updated every 1-2 years. Cognitive function changes with development (in youth), training adaptations, aging, and other factors. A baseline from 3 years ago is a less accurate comparison point than one from the current year. Where to get tested. Athletic trainers, sports medicine clinics, concussion clinics, and some primary care offices offer baseline testing. Many high school and college athletic programs include baseline testing as part of the pre-participation physical. Community concussion clinics sometimes offer baseline testing events for youth athletes. Limitations of Baseline Testing Baseline testing is one component, not the entire picture. No return-to-play decision should rely solely on computer-based test scores returning to baseline. Clinical assessment, symptom resolution, exercise tolerance testing, and the graduated return-to-play protocol all contribute to return decisions. Test-retest reliability varies. Some computerized test components have limited reliability, meaning scores vary between sessions even without injury. Clinicians trained in concussion assessment understand which score changes are meaningful and which fall within normal test-retest variation. Normative data is a reasonable alternative. For individuals without baseline data, age- and sex-matched normative data provides adequate comparison points. Baseline testing is better, but absence of baseline data does not prevent accurate concussion assessment and management. Establish your movement baseline with simplmobility's cervical and full-body mobility assessments. How often should baseline concussion tests be updated? Every 1-2 years for adults and annually for youth athletes under 18. Developing brains show cognitive changes with maturation, making older baselines less accurate for comparison. Adult baselines remain valid for approximately 2 years before retesting is recommended. Does baseline testing prevent concussions? No. Baseline testing does not prevent concussion. It improves post-concussion management by providing individualized comparison data for tracking recovery. Concussion prevention strategies include neck strengthening, proper technique, rule enforcement, and appropriate equipment. Baseline testing is a management tool, not a prevention tool. Is baseline testing required for youth sports? Requirements vary by state and organization. Many state athletic associations recommend or require baseline testing for contact sport athletes. Even when not mandated, baseline testing is valuable for any athlete in a sport with head injury risk. The 20-30 minute investment provides data that improves concussion management if injury occurs. References Broglio, S. P., et al. (2017). National Athletic Trainers' Association position statement: management of sport concussion. Journal of Athletic Training, 52(5), 442-462. PubMed Echemendia, R. J., et al. (2017). The Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 5th Edition (SCAT5). British Journal of Sports Medicine, 51(11), 848-850. PubMed