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Back to the Books: Return to Learn Strategies for Concussed Student-Athletes: Summary
Sleep Disturbances • Sleeping more or less than usual • Difficulty falling asleep
LEARNING TIP! Athletic trainers are often the first to identify injuries and communicate with the medical team. They play a crucial role in facilitating a timely RTL plan and ensuring a seamless transition between the medical, academic, and physical activity teams. Communication across members of the RTL team is essential to ensure proper management of the concussed student.
A return to learn (RTL) plan is a step-by-step process that aims to help students recover while providing them with adequate support and academic adjustments during the school day. This approach involves implementing customized programs that ensure a gradual and individualized return to the classroom, much like return to play protocols. EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE RTL protocols should be tailored to the individual student to make sure that they are put in the best environment to return to the classroom. A 2020 study revealed that concussed student-athletes greatly benefit from returning to the classroom using a gradual, stepwise process to ensure that symptoms are not exacerbated by cognitive activities. In order to achieve a successful RTL for student-athletes, it's important to have a multidisciplinary team of experts, including the medical team, the student's family, the school's academic team, and the school's physical activity team. One of the most important members of this team is the athletic trainer. Athletic trainers not only have specialized knowledge in identifying and managing concussions, but they also act as a valuable source of information for both student athletes and school staff.
Identifying a Case Manager A case manager serves as the decision maker who oversees the student’s return to the classroom and manages the scheduling of tests along with other academic aspects. Referring physicians are typically the case managers of choice, but in some cases, an athletic trainer or school counselor may take on this role, acting as a bridge between the medical and academic teams. When developing RTL protocols, it’s important to understand the distinction between adjustments, accommodations, and modifications. Although these terms are sometimes used interchangeably, they each have unique meanings and should be approached as separate considerations. Adjustments • Nonformalized changes within the initial one to three weeks that do not jeopardize curriculum or testing
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