Benson Concussion Institute

Behind better concussion care is better science. 🔬🧠

Benson Concussion Institute is founded on more than two decades of applied research and clinical experience in sport-related concussion and high-performance sport.

BCI reports more than 35 peer-reviewed publications, with its work focused on advancing the understanding, assessment and clinical care of sport-related concussion.

Research helps BCI continue exploring objective neurological assessment, innovative technologies and multi-system approaches to concussion care.

The goal extends beyond treating today’s athlete — it’s about continuing to improve the standard of concussion care for the athletes of tomorrow.

Same athletes. Brighter tomorrows.

🌐 Learn more about BCI⁠

What goes into a comprehensive concussion assessment? 🧠

At BCI, advanced technology is combined with integrated assessment techniques to evaluate multiple neurological systems and brain processes that can be affected by concussion.

BCI’s assessment technology includes robotics, qEEG, inertial sensors, eye-tracking devices and near-infrared light, helping the clinical team identify subtle but potentially important functional deficits.

The goal? A clearer, more objective picture of how an athlete is functioning — information that can help guide individualized management, rehabilitation and return-to-sport decisions.

Advanced technology. Individualized care. Better information.

📞 (587) 391-9840
🌐 bciconcussion.ca⁠

Exercise and concussion recovery can go hand in hand — when activity is appropriately assessed and individualized. 🏃

BCI’s interdisciplinary team includes exercise physiologists with experience in sport-related concussion exercise stress testing, heart-rate variability, autonomic nervous system function and individualized exercise prescription.

Rather than treating every athlete the same, BCI looks at the individual athlete and the different factors that may be influencing recovery.

The aim is to understand how the body responds to exercise and use that information as part of an individualized approach to rehabilitation and performance.

Because no two athletes are exactly the same — and neither is their recovery.

📍 Benson Concussion Institute at WinSport
📞 (587) 391-9840
🌐 Learn more at BCI⁠

When in doubt, sit them out. 🏒🧠

Coaches and parents play an important role in recognizing a suspected concussion and helping athletes get the care they need.

If a concussion is suspected:

1. Remove the athlete from play or activity immediately.
2. Monitor for symptoms and seek appropriate medical assessment.
3. Do not allow a same-day return to sport.

Concussion symptoms may appear immediately or develop over the following hours or days. An athlete does not need to lose consciousness, and appearing fine does not rule out an injury.

BCI’s physician-led team uses advanced, multi-modal neurological assessments and individualized management strategies to support athletes through their recovery and return to sport.

For eligible individuals aged 10–60 who have sustained a suspected sport- or recreation-related concussion within the past 30 days, BCI offers an Acute Sport-Related Concussion Self-Referral Program. The physician visit is covered by Alberta Health; advanced technology assessments are uninsured and have an associated cost.

Protecting an athlete’s long-term health starts with making the right decision in the moment.

🌐 bciconcussion.ca
📞 (587) 391-9840

Today, September 23, is Alberta Concussion Awareness Day. 🧠💙

At Benson Concussion Institute, we believe that education, early recognition, and access to appropriate care are essential to protecting athletes’ brain health.

A concussion is a brain injury that can affect how a person thinks, feels, and functions. It may occur without a loss of consciousness, and symptoms can be different for every individual.

Whether you’re an athlete, parent, coach, or healthcare professional, you can make a difference by knowing the signs and taking suspected concussions seriously.

Recognize the symptoms. Remove the athlete from play. Seek medical assessment. Support a gradual, individualized return to school and sport.

BCI is committed to providing physician-led concussion assessment, rehabilitation, and performance medicine to help individuals navigate their recovery and return to the activities they love.

Today, we stand with the concussion community in raising awareness and promoting safer sport for everyone.

📍 Benson Concussion Institute | WinSport, Calgary
📞 (587) 391-9840
🌐 bciconcussion.ca

Recovery includes the classroom. 📚🧠

For student-athletes, concussion recovery is about more than getting back to the game. Symptoms can affect concentration, memory, reading, screen tolerance, and the ability to manage a full school day.

A gradual return to learning, with appropriate supports, can help students stay connected to school while they recover. Accommodations may include shorter school days, rest breaks, reduced workloads, or extra time for assignments, depending on individual needs.

At Benson Concussion Institute, we understand the demands of high-performance sport and the importance of supporting the whole athlete. Our Annual High-Performance Sport Concussion Program includes weekly physician follow-up throughout the return-to-health, school, and performance journey, as well as clinical updates for coaches and team therapists.

Every recovery is different. The goal is an individualized plan that supports a safe return to both learning and sport.

Learn more about BCI’s programs at bciconcussion.ca.

📞 (587) 391-9840

You don’t have to lose consciousness to have a concussion. 🧠

A concussion can happen after a hit to the head, face, neck, or body that causes the brain to move rapidly. An athlete may look fine at first, but symptoms can develop immediately or over the following hours.

Signs to watch for include:
• Headache or pressure in the head
• Dizziness or balance problems
• Confusion or difficulty concentrating
• Nausea
• Sensitivity to light or noise

If a concussion is suspected, remove the athlete from play and arrange an appropriate medical assessment. They should not return to sport the same day.

Recognizing the signs early is an important part of protecting an athlete’s health.

📍 Benson Concussion Institute | WinSport, Calgary
🌐 bciconcussion.ca

What does a coordinated return to performance look like?

BCI collaborates with Canadian Sport Institute Alberta through the R3 Program—a data-driven, monitored return-to-health and performance rehabilitation program for qualifying athletes in the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Sport Institute Network.

The program brings together an interdisciplinary team to support athletes recovering from concussion, ACL injuries, other traumatic musculoskeletal injuries, or Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S).

The focus is on coordinated assessment, individualized rehabilitation, and helping athletes work toward their performance goals with support from experienced healthcare and sport science professionals.

Learn more about BCI’s specialized programs and collaborative approach to athlete care.

🌐 bciconcussion.ca
📞 (587) 391-9840

Still experiencing symptoms weeks after a concussion?

Recovery timelines can vary, and some individuals experience symptoms that continue beyond the initial recovery period. Persistent symptoms deserve a comprehensive assessment rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

BCI offers a Persistent Concussion-like Symptoms Self-Referral Program for eligible individuals ages 10–60 who have a family physician and are experiencing symptoms lasting more than 30 days and less than 12 months following a sport or recreation-related concussion.

The program includes multi-modal neurological assessment and an individualized, two-week immersive neuro-rehabilitation program delivered five days per week. Care is tailored to the medical, physical, and psychosocial factors identified during assessment.

There are eligibility requirements and costs associated with the advanced assessments and rehabilitation. Contact BCI to discuss whether the program may be appropriate for you.

📞 (587) 391-9840
🌐 bciconcussion.ca

🏒 Your season starts before the first game.

Did you know BCI offers a pre-season baseline neurological assessment as part of its Annual High-Performance Sport Concussion Program?

Baseline testing helps establish an athlete’s individual starting point by assessing brain function and neurological processes that may be affected by concussion. If an injury occurs during the season, this information can help guide individualized assessment and management.

The annual program is designed for eligible athletes ages 10–40 participating in sports or recreational activities involving high speeds, acrobatics, contact, collision, or combat. It includes access to post-concussion assessments and physician follow-up throughout the return-to-health, school, and performance journey.

Whether you’re preparing for hockey, skiing, soccer, or another high-performance sport, planning ahead is an important part of athlete care.

📞 (587) 391-9840
🌐 bciconcussion.ca