Amsterdam Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport
Sport-related concussion in adolescents and adults. The sixth international consensus statement of the Concussion in Sport Group, based on 10 systematic reviews. It introduced the SCAT6 sideline tool and the office-based SCOAT6.
Consensus statement on concussion in sport: the 6th International Conference on Concussion in Sport — Amsterdam, October 2022
Key recommendations
- Light activity such as walking is fine in the first 24–48 hours if it does not more than mildly worsen symptoms; after that, return to physical activity as tolerated while avoiding any risk of contact, collision or falls.
- Aerobic exercise kept below the symptom threshold and started 2–10 days after injury reduces the chance of persisting symptoms, and also helps people whose symptoms last longer than a month.
- Reduce screen time in the first 48 hours; limiting it beyond that may not help.
- Cervicovestibular rehabilitation is recommended when dizziness, neck pain or headaches last more than 10 days.
- Symptoms that last more than 4 weeks are "persisting symptoms". They call for a multimodal clinical assessment, ideally by a multidisciplinary team, and — where available — referral to clinicians with specialized concussion skills.
- The clinician network it describes for persisting symptoms includes neurologists, physiatrists, neuropsychologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists, among others.
- Step-by-step return-to-learn and return-to-sport strategies: full return to learning comes before unrestricted return to sport, which typically takes up to a month.
How it shows up in our care
Plans use early, symptom-guided activity and exercise rather than prolonged rest, vestibular and neck rehabilitation when dizziness, neck pain or headaches persist, and a step-by-step return to school, work and sport. Several of the specialties it lists for persisting symptoms — neurology, physiatry (PM&R), neuropsychology and physical therapy — work together on one plan at Go Clinic.
About this guideline
The statement was written by the Concussion in Sport Group after the 6th International Conference on Concussion in Sport in Amsterdam (October 2022). It is based on 10 systematic reviews of priority topics carried out over three and a half years.
The conference also produced revised assessment tools: the Concussion Recognition Tool 6 (CRT6), the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 6 (SCAT6 and Child SCAT6) and a new office-based tool, the Sport Concussion Office Assessment Tool 6 (SCOAT6 and Child SCOAT6).
What it says about the conditions we treat
Light activity such as walking is fine in the first 24–48 hours; prescribed aerobic exercise below the symptom threshold from 2–10 days after injury reduces the chance of persisting symptoms.
Symptoms lasting more than 4 weeks call for a multimodal clinical assessment, ideally by a multidisciplinary team, and referral to clinicians with specialized concussion skills.
Cervicovestibular rehabilitation is recommended when headaches, neck pain or dizziness last more than 10 days.
Cervicovestibular rehabilitation is recommended when dizziness, neck pain or headaches last more than 10 days.
Cervicovestibular rehabilitation is recommended when neck pain, headaches or dizziness last more than 10 days.
This summary is paraphrased for general information — see the source for its exact wording and full recommendations. Go Clinic is not affiliated with, and has not been reviewed or endorsed by, Concussion in Sport Group. Last updated October 2026. This page is not medical advice; Go Clinic's telehealth services are not for emergencies — call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
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