CONCUSSION CLINIC
Concussion Clinic Cardiff
Expert Concussion Assessment, Treatment & Rehabilitation at Pro Sports Medicine
At Pro Sports Medicine in Cardiff, we provide specialist concussion assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation for athletes, children, and adults who have sustained a head injury.
As a certified Complete Concussions clinic, we deliver an evidence-based concussion management programme designed to help patients recover safely and return to school, work, and sport with confidence.
Our multidisciplinary clinicians combine sports medicine expertise, physiotherapy, and advanced concussion testing to deliver personalised treatment plans tailored to each patient.
Whether your concussion occurred during sport, a fall, a road traffic accident, or everyday activity, early expert assessment can significantly improve recovery outcomes.
What Is a Concussion?
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury caused by rapid acceleration or deceleration forces acting on the brain following an impact to the head or body.
This sudden movement temporarily disrupts normal brain function and can lead to a range of physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms.
Common Concussion Symptoms
Symptoms may appear immediately or develop over several hours and can include:
Headache or pressure in the head
Dizziness or balance problems
Neck pain or stiffness
Nausea or vomiting
Sensitivity to light or noise
Memory or concentration difficulties
Feeling slowed down or “foggy”
Fatigue or sleep disturbances
Mood changes such as irritability or anxiety
If you suspect a concussion, early medical assessment is essential. Research shows that patients assessed quickly by trained concussion specialists recover more effectively and reduce the risk of prolonged symptoms.
Concussion Assessment in Cardiff
At Pro Sports Medicine, we provide comprehensive concussion evaluation using internationally recognised protocols. Our clinical assessment may include:
Detailed concussion history and symptom review
Neurological examination
Balance and vestibular testing
Vision and eye tracking assessment
Cognitive testing
Neck and cervical spine assessment
Exercise tolerance testing
This multidimensional approach allows us to identify the specific systems affected by concussion and guide targeted rehabilitation.
Evidence-Based Concussion Treatment
Modern concussion care has moved away from prolonged rest. Current scientific evidence shows that targeted rehabilitation and guided exercise are essential for recovery.
Following the initial 24–48 hours of symptom-limited rest, our clinicians create an individualised rehabilitation programme tailored to your symptoms and recovery stage.
Our Concussion Rehabilitation Includes
Vestibular rehabilitation for dizziness and balance issues
Vision therapy to improve visual tracking and coordination
Cervical spine treatment to address neck-related symptoms
Graduated aerobic exercise programmes
Manual therapy and physiotherapy
Nutritional guidance and recovery strategies
Cognitive rehabilitation support
This multimodal approach targets the underlying causes of persistent symptoms rather than simply waiting for symptoms to resolve.
Return to Sport, School & Work
One of the most important parts of concussion management is ensuring a safe and structured return to activity.
Our clinicians guide patients through graduated return-to-learn, return-to-work, and return-to-sport protocols, ensuring recovery milestones are met before progressing.
This structured progression helps reduce the risk of:
Re-injury
Prolonged concussion symptoms
Second impact syndrome
For athletes, we also collaborate with coaches, teams, and schools to ensure safe return-to-play decisions.
Baseline Concussion Testing for Athletes
Pro Sports Medicine also offers pre-season baseline concussion testing for individuals, teams, and sports organisations.
Baseline testing provides a pre-injury snapshot of brain function, including:
Reaction time
Balance
Memory
Cognitive processing
Visual tracking speed
If a concussion occurs, we can compare post-injury results with baseline data to determine when brain function has safely returned to normal.
This provides a more accurate and safer return-to-play decision for athletes.
Baseline testing is recommended for:
Rugby players
Footballers
Hockey players
Combat sports athletes
Youth and school sport participants
Why Choose Pro Sports Medicine for Concussion Care?
At Pro Sports Medicine Cardiff, our concussion clinic combines elite sports medicine expertise with cutting-edge concussion assessment tools. Our Expertise:
Certified Complete Concussions clinic
Experienced clinicians working with elite athletes and sports teams
Evidence-based concussion rehabilitation protocols
Advanced balance, vision, and cognitive testing
Personalised recovery plans
We regularly treat athletes from:
Rugby
Football
Cycling
Combat sports
Youth sport and schools
Our goal is simple: help you recover fully and safely return to the activities you love.
When Should You Seek Concussion Assessment?
You should seek professional assessment if:
You experienced a head impact or whiplash injury
You have persistent symptoms after a head injury
Symptoms last longer than 7–10 days
You are an athlete needing clearance to return to sport
Early specialist assessment is one of the most important predictors of successful concussion recovery.
FAQs – Concussion Clinic Cardiff
How long does concussion recovery take?
Most people recover within 21-30 days, but some may experience symptoms for longer. Early assessment and rehabilitation can speed recovery.
Can you exercise with a concussion?
Yes — guided aerobic exercise is now recognised as an important part of concussion rehabilitation when introduced at the correct stage.
Do I need a scan for concussion?
Most concussions do not require CT or MRI scans, as they assess structural injury rather than brain function. Clinical concussion assessment is more important.
Do you treat children with concussion?
Yes. Our clinic treats youth athletes and children, providing age-appropriate concussion assessment and return-to-school guidance.
Should you require any further information about the Pro Sports Medicine Concussion clinic services – please complete the below contact form or email us on info@prosportsmedicine.co.uk
Dr Daniel Vaughan
Specialist Sports Doctor
Dr Vaughan is first team doctor for Newport County Football Club, Cardiff Rugby and Medical Officer to the British Boxing Board of Control. Having completed undergraduate training in Exeter, he has worked within the UK and Australia where he has developed his sport and exercise interests with the Newcastle Knights & Manley Sea Eagles NRL teams.
He has post-graduate qualifications in sport and exercise medicine and musculoskeletal ultrasound and has been awarded membership to the faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine, Ireland. Dr. Vaughan has a special interest in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of joint and soft tissue problems in elite athletes and the non-sporting population alike. He believes strongly in the use of sports medicine as a way to develop a strong and robust individual to achieve their aspirations – whether this be in sport, life or both.
He prides himself on providing bespoke, evidence based care, centred on the individual. He is proficient in MSK Ultrasound diagnostic imaging as well as using this to guide a variety of joint and soft tissue injections including as PRP, Ostenil and steroid injections. Dr Vaughan can request blood tests, imaging (like x-rays and MRI) and perform onward referral to his close network of specialists such as orthopaedic surgeons.
Dr. Vaughan has extensive experience of managing concussion at the highest levels of professional rugby, football and boxing.
Daniel graduated from the University Of Wales College Of Medicine in 2003, with a BSc Honours degree in Physiotherapy. Throughout his career he has developed a broad range of clinical experience, from working with the general public to elite sports athletes.
He has previously worked in New Zealand, Australia and the U.K., with a specialist interest in musculoskeletal and sports medicine and has completed an MSc in Sports Physiotherapy at Cardiff University.
Daniel has worked with a number of professional sports teams including Worcester Warriors, Gloucester Rugby and the Welsh Rugby Union as Head Physiotherapist to the Wales National Sevens Squad. Daniel is currently Head of Medical Services for Cardiff Rugby. Notably Daniel worked with the Wales Rugby National Squad for the 2021 Summer International series.
