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Niagara IceDogs athletic therapist Peter Dobbin said his players do online baseline tests every year, something that is mandated by the Ontario Hockey League.
Dobbin, a strong testing supporter, said the tests are hard to fudge as it uses a player's responses as a baseline for evolving concussion problems.
The information is then assessed by a hockey neuropsychologist for possible concussion signs.
If a player gets any future blow to the head or other injury where a concussion is possible, they are retested.
Players indicating problems are placed in a return-to-play protocol under physicians' supervision.
Dobbin said he usually has from three to seven players with these issues each year.
That said, not all medical experts approve of the baseline testing for concussions.
Clinicians in some media accounts suggest concussions should be managed entirely by doctors. It is argued some players might be back on the ice before they're ready.
Those interviewed for this story who use baseline testing strongly defend it. They say it flags more players that may not be showing obvious symptoms like headaches.
Qualified doctors are involved when concussion issues are identified, they say.
"It takes the guesswork out of it, in my opinion," Dobbin said, adding leagues that currently rely only on trainers to assess concussions could make good use of testing."
