Sport-Related Concussion and Occupational Therapy: Expanding the Scope of Practice

Sport participation is a common occupation for many children and youth and can lead to improved physical and psychosocial health. Despite these benefits, it exposes children and youth to the increased risk of injury. Concussion, also referred to as mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), is one of the most common sports injuries reported in the pediatric population, where a child is six times more likely to suffer a concussion during organized sport participation than during other physical leisure activities (Browne & Lam, 2006). Children and youth can experience a range of neurobehavioral deficits following concussion including somatic, cognitive, and emotional/behavioral postconcussive symptoms (Kirkwood, Yeates, & Wilson, 2006) that can have a significant impact on daily function. The profession of occupational therapy has yet to be widely recognized or utilized within the world of sport when rehabilitating athletes following a concussion. However, the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to sport-related concussion management has been promoted internationally (McCrory et al., 2005; McCrory et al., 2009). The combinations of symptoms associated with sport-related concussion can have a significant impact on occupational performance, both on and off the playing field. Occupational therapists can assume a variety of roles (listed later) specific to the safe return of athletes to their meaningful daily occupations. This commentary aims to act as a starting point for exploration of sport-related concussion from an occupational perspective and to expand the scope of occupational therapy practice into the world of sport.