Why Pre-Season ImPACT Baseline Testing Matters for Australian Athletes

Every footy, soccer, hockey and basketball season in Australia brings the same risk: head knocks. While you can’t always prevent them, you can prepare for them. One of the most effective ways to give an athlete the best chance of a safe, well-managed recovery is something done before a single game is played, a concussion baseline test.

What is baseline testing?

Baseline testing is a computerised, neurocognitive test of how your brain works when it’s healthy. Using the ImPACT system, the most widely researched tool of its kind, it records a snapshot of your normal brain function before any head injury occurs. Think of it as a benchmark: a record of “you at your best” that sits safely on file.

The beauty of it is convenience. The test takes around 20 to 30 minutes and can be completed at home on your own computer (children should be supervised). Once you’re done, we keep your results on file should you ever need them.

What does the test measure?

ImPACT baseline testing assesses the cognitive functions most affected by concussion, including:

• Visual and verbal memory

• Reaction time

• Brain processing speed

• Attention span and concentration

• Impulse control and multitasking ability

Why it makes such a difference after a head knock

Here’s the problem with diagnosing concussion without a baseline: everyone’s “normal” is different. A naturally fast or slow reaction time, for one person, might look like a deficit for another. A baseline removes the guesswork.

If a concussion is suspected, we re-administer the test (the post-injury test) and compare the results directly against the athlete’s own pre-season baseline. That comparison helps our doctors and physiotherapists decide three crucial things:

1. How severe the concussion is

2. What the customised treatment plan should look like

3. When it’s genuinely safe to return to normal activity and sport

Who benefits from baseline testing?

In short, everyone involved in the athlete’s care.

• The athlete receives highly personalised concussion care, which can support a faster, safer recovery.

• The club knows it is giving players the best possible chance of a smooth recovery, and is supported when baseline testing forms part of a proper concussion protocol.

• The healthcare provider gains objective, pre-injury information that makes identifying concussion deficits far more accurate.

Is ImPACT testing reliable?

Yes. ImPACT is research-backed and has received clearance from regulatory bodies around the world. It even includes built-in validity indicators to detect “sandbagging” — when someone deliberately underperforms on their baseline to make a later return-to-play easier. That keeps the benchmark honest and trustworthy.

How often should it be done: and at what age?

Research suggests baseline testing should be repeated annually, ideally before each athletic season or during pre-season. The ImPACT baseline test has been developed for ages 12 to 80, making it suitable for junior athletes through to masters competitors and weekend warriors.

Book your baseline before the season starts

Whether you’re an individual athlete or a club partnering with the Melbourne Sports Concussion Clinic, getting baseline tested is a simple, proactive step that pays off when it matters most. It’s one short test now for far greater peace of mind later.

Get your brain’s baseline on file before round one. Contact The Melbourne Sports Concussion Clinic on 1300 361 053 or email info@melbournesportsconcussion.com to arrange ImPACT baseline testing.