You are on the Fastest Route: A Clinician’s Roadmap to Managing Return-to-Drive After Concussion
Abstract:
Recent statements from the NATA and AMSSM mention driving after concussion and highlight the role of clinicians in providing post-concussion driving recommendations to patients. Driving requires the prompt interaction of visual, motor, and cognitive skills - which are commonly impaired after concussion. Individuals with concussion present with poorer vehicle control acutely following concussion. Yet, only 44% of patients reduce their driving following injury. The delicate balance between driving safety, patient autonomy, and medical-legal considerations make this process uniquely challenging. We will discuss: emerging research findings, patient recommendation approaches, return-to-drive progressions, and using clinical assessments to guide this process.
Learning Objectives:
- Synthesize information related to post-concussion driving safety.
- Apply emerging research to develop appropriate patient recommendations on driving safety following concussion.
- Apply gradual return-to-drive strategies in various clinical scenarios, when appropriate.
Level:
Essential
Domain(s):
Domain 1: Risk Reduction Wellness and Health Literacy
Domain 2: Assessment Evaluation and Diagnosis
Domain 4: Therapeutic Intervention
Domain 5: Health Care Administration and Professional Responsibility
Orthopedic Domain(s):
N/A
CEUs:
1.0 Category A
Keywords:
mild traumatic brain injury, transportation
In order to earn your CEUs, you must watch the session video in its entirety and complete the assessment.
Course Expiration:
All sessions of the NATA 76th Symposia On-Demand must be completed by October 31, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. CDT.
For full details, refer to the expiration policy on our FAQ page.
Julianne Schmidt, PhD, LAT, ATC
Kumiko Hashida, PhD, ATC
Dr. Kumiko Hashida is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the UGA Concussion Research Center in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Georgia in Athens Georgia. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Athletic Training from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2018. In 2020, Dr. Hashida earned her Master’s and Doctorate degrees from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
During her graduate studies, Dr. Hashida’s research addresses the clinical translation of advanced concussion assessment outcomes to improve the diagnostic, prognostic, and recovery process. She is currently involved in an National Institutes of Health funded study investigating the effect of concussion on driving performance at the UGA Concussion Research Center.