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Graduated return to sport — MRCEM SBA MCQ

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HardConcussionGraduated return to sportMRCEM SBA

A 21-year-old footballer is symptom free one week after concussion and has completed aerobic exercise and non-contact training without symptom recurrence. He asks to resume heading drills. What is the most appropriate decision?

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Correct answer: D — Require medical clearance before head-impact activity

The best answer is “Require medical clearance before head-impact activity”. Return to sport after concussion is graduated and symptom limited. Progression to stages with risk of head impact, including heading drills and match play, requires medical clearance after successful earlier rehabilitation stages. Prolonged complete rest is not recommended, but symptom resolution alone does not justify unassessed return to collision-risk activity.

Reference: British Journal of Sports Medicine: Amsterdam 2022 concussion consensus statement: https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/57/11/695