Frequently Asked Questions

A concussion is a brain injury. It is a complicated process that occurs in the brain following a traumatic event which transmits impulsive forces to the head. It may result from a blow to the head or other part of the body. While we don’t typically see physical damage from a concussion on standard medical imaging, we know that it does alter the way the brain functions.

In some cases, it can be quite obvious to recognize if there is a loss of consciousness, seizure activity or convulsions, vomiting, agitation or combative behaviour, confusion, stumbling, balance or gait difficulties. In other cases, the warning signs may be subtle, such as a blank or vacant stare, slow to get up, difficult responding to questions, or slurred speech.

The signs and symptoms of concussion may present immediately following the injury, or may take minutes to hours, and sometimes, days to appear. When the brain is not functioning properly, athletes who continue to participate in sport and do not seek proper care may be at risk of a prolonged recovery, additional injury, or even complications later in life.

Early identification and prompt intervention with targeted, individualized management strategies are critically important to accelerate the recovery process and ensure a safe and successful return to sport.

This allows us to provide the best possible, individualized management recommendations if a sport-related concussion is sustained.

• • Annual High-Performance Sport Concussion Program
  • Acute Sport-Related Concussion Self-Referral Program
  • Persistent Concussion-like Symptom Self-Referral Program
  • Professional Athlete Program (e.g., NHL, AHL, ECHL, CFL, KHL, NFL, NBA, MLB, etc.)

New Innovative Programs:

• • Pre-season Performance-Based Concussion Prevention Program (Evidence-Based)
  • “Generational Health Program” for proactive, healthy, active Executives / Professionals / Masters Athletes (ages 40 – 65 years) looking to optimize and maintain brain and neurologic function through the natural aging process to preserve your competitive edge and reduce injury risk 
  • Collaborative Canadian Sport Institute Alberta’s “R3 Program” (Data Driven, Monitored Return to Health & Performance Rehabilitation Program) for qualifying athletes in the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Sport Institute Network sustaining a Concussion / Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury or other Musculoskeletal Injury / Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S)

BCI does not accept the following patients:

• • injured in a motor vehicle collision (MVC)
  • injured at work (WCB)
  • injured from a non-sport related mechanism (e.g., assault, hit by a vehicle, fall on ice, fall downstairs, motorcycle accident, hit by a car, etc.)
  • with associated post-traumatic intracranial / cerebral hemorrhage, orbital fracture, basal skull fracture or structural brain injury
  • on short-term or long-term work-related disability injury
  • with medical-legal claims or involvement associated with their injury

BCI’s Sport Concussion Program utilizes applied, evidence-based practice using advanced technology and techniques to provide the basis for its physician directed interdisciplinary management. This comprehensive integrated assessment and individualized neuro-rehabilitation program for sport-related concussion fosters a Precision Medicine Paradigm and is unique to Canada.

Currently, BCI offers its Annual High-Performance Sport Concussion Program for an affordable price that covers an entire athletic season. The fee includes a comprehensive pre-season baseline neurological assessment using advanced assessment technology and techniques to measure the brain’s function and associated neurological systems typically impacted by concussion. It also includes direct access to the clinic without a referral for any concussion or acute sport-related musculoskeletal injury sustained during the season. The comprehensive pre-season baseline and post-concussion neurological assessments involves cutting-edge technology that is not covered under basic Alberta Healthcare Service plans (uninsured service) and thus there is a fee associated with this program.

BCI’s Acute Sport-Concussion Self-Referral Program includes a comprehensive physician clinical assessment and objective multi-modal neurological assessment using advanced technology with targeted, individualized management strategies. There is no cost associated with the physician visit as it is covered by Alberta Health. However, the advanced technology assessments are not covered under basic Alberta Healthcare Service plans and thus there is a cost associated with this program.

BCI’s Persistent Concussion-Like Symptom Self-Referral Program includes comprehensive multi-modal neurological assessments using advanced technology and integrated techniques by an experienced team of multi-disciplinary healthcare professionals. It also includes a 2-week (5 days per week) immersive multi-modal, multi-disciplinary neuro-rehabilitation program individualized to the specific medical, physical and psychosocial factors identified from the comprehensive assessment. The advanced technology, multi-disciplinary healthcare assessments, and rehabilitation is not covered under basic Alberta Health Service plans and thus there is a cost associated with this program. Receipts will be provided for our allied health professional services for submission to your private / extended health insurance provider. There is no cost associated with the physician visit as it is covered by Alberta Health.

24-hour’s notice is required to cancel or reschedule a baseline assessment, physician visit, or rehabilitation appointment, or there will be a $60 charge to your account. We realize that there may be unforeseen circumstances at times for “no-shows” which will be assessed on a case-by-case basis for exceptions to this policy.

• • Ages 10 – 60 years
  • Suspected concussion sustained during a sport or recreation related activity
  • Concussive event sustained within the past 30 days

You must NOT be the following:

• • Injured in a motor vehicle collision (MVC)
  • Injured at work (WCB)
  • Injured from a non-sport related mechanism (e.g., assault, hit by a vehicle, fall on ice, fall downstairs, motorcycle accident, hit by a car, etc.)
  • Associated post-traumatic intracranial / cerebral hemorrhage, orbital, basal skull fracture or structural brain injury
  • Persistent concussion-like symptoms lasting >30 days
  • Short-term or long-term work-related disability injury
  • Medical-legal related injury
  • Professional athletes currently under contract (e.g., CFL, NHL, AHL, ECHL, KHL, NFL, NBA, MLB, etc.) – please contact us directly if you are a professional athlete.

A member of our team will contact you for triage and appointment booking. BCI’s comprehensive multi-modal neurological assessment uses advanced technology and techniques that are not covered under basic Alberta Health Service plans, and thus there will be a cost for this uninsured service.

• • Ages 10 – 60 years
  • Suspected concussion sustained during a sport or recreation related activity
  • Persistent concussion-like symptoms lasting > 30 days and < 12 months duration
  • Must have family physician

 You must NOT be the following:

• • Injured in a motor vehicle collision (MVC)
  • Injured at work (WCB)
  • Injured from a non-sport related mechanism (e.g., assault, hit by a vehicle, fall on ice, fall downstairs, motorcycle accident, hit by vehicle, etc.)
  • Associated post-traumatic intracranial / cerebral hemorrhage, orbital, basal skull fracture or structural brain injury
  • Previous motor vehicle collision (MVC) related concussion / traumatic brain injury that has not fully recovered
  • Short-term or long-term disability work related injury
  • Medical-legal related injury
  • Professional athletes currently under contract (e.g., CFL, NHL, AHL, ECHL, KHL, NFL, NBA, MLB, etc.) – please contact the clinic directly if you are a professional athlete.

 The persistent concussion-like symptom self-referral program includes BCI’s proprietary multi-modal neurological assessments using advanced technology and integrated techniques by an experienced team of multi-disciplinary healthcare professionals. It also includes a 2-week (5 days per week) immersive multi-modal and multi-disciplinary neuro-rehabilitation program individualized to the specific medical, physical and psychosocial factors identified from the comprehensive assessment. The advanced technology, multi-disciplinary healthcare assessments, and rehabilitation is not covered under basic Alberta Health Service plans and thus a cost is associated with this program. Receipts will be provided for our allied health professional services for submission to your private / extended health insurance provider.

Dr. Benson is a proud member of the NHL-NHLPA second medical opinion list.

A referral is required from the Professional Team Physician.

The program includes:

• • 3rd party independent assessment by a Sport Medicine Physician Concussion Specialist and multi-disciplinary team of healthcare professionals experienced in sport concussion. 
  • Comprehensive assessment of multiple neurological systems and brain processes typically impacted by a concussion using cutting-edge technology and integrated clinical assessment techniques.
  • Individualized, post-concussion rehabilitation strategies targeted to the unique characteristics of the athlete upon approval from the Professional Team / Physician.
  • Summary clinical report provided to athlete / team physician / agent / professional club.
  • Please note, the Athlete / Professional Club will be responsible for any transportation, accommodation, meals associated with the assessment and approved neuro-rehabilitation program.

The term “baseline” is used loosely in today’s sporting environment and can be quite different between clinics depending on the type of healthcare practitioner conducting the assessment and their clinical experience with sport concussion. Not all “baseline concussion assessments” are created equal.

Based on over two decades of applied research and clinical experience with sport-related concussion, BCI recommends a comprehensive “healthy” multi-modal neurological assessment completed annually in the pre-season period. Our proprietary baseline assessment includes traditional sport concussion assessment tools, advanced neuro-technology, and integrated clinical techniques to comprehensively assess brain function and the multiple neurologic processes typically impacted by concussion. It is unlike any other and fosters a precision medicine paradigm assisting with concussion diagnosis and allowing our physicians to tailor medical decisions and management strategies to the unique characteristics of each athlete.

Each athlete is unique with their own “neurological signature”. There may be pre-existing medical comorbidities that can confound or mix-up a post-injury assessment that may not reflect physiological injury to the brain (e.g., chronic neck pain / stiffness, visual concerns, anxiety, depression, migraine or other type of headaches, ADHD, learning disabilities, dyslexia, etc.). If you don’t know what is “normal” at an individual level from a comprehensive clinical and multi-modal baseline neurological assessment, it can be very difficult to ascertain what is “abnormal” when a suspected injury occurs. Furthermore, an annual comprehensive baseline neurological assessment increases the precision of ascertaining physiological recovery and determining when it is safe to return to high-risk sport participation.

Food: You should be in a state of energy balance (adequate energy availability on the day of testing)

Fluids: You should be properly hydrated on the day of testing

Caffeine: No caffeine 12 hours prior to testing

Tobacco/Nicotine: No tobacco / nicotine products 12 hours prior to testing

Medications: Refrain from taking any medication 4 hours prior to testing, unless medically necessary

Vitamins / Supplements: Refrain from taking vitamins/supplements 4 hours prior to testing

Bladder: Please void your bladder prior to testing (i.e., urinate)

Alcohol: No alcohol 24 hours prior to testing

Sleep: It is important to have a normal night sleep to ensure a “wakefulness state” during testing

Exercise: No strenuous exercise 4 hours prior to testing

Clothing: Wear comfortable clothing and footwear for exercise testing on a stationary bike

Makeup: Please do not wear eye makeup

Hair: Tie back long hair. Please note one of the tests will require a head cap where easy access to scalp is required (i.e., avoid hair clips, high ponytail, etc.)

Cell Phones: Please put your phone on silent / airplane mode during testing