In a concussion return-to-play protocol, which phase typically follows progressive exertion without symptoms?

• A. Non-contact training
• B. Full contact after clearance
• C. Sport-specific drills
• D. Progressive exertion after rest

Answer: (C)

After symptoms-free progression of exertion, the next step reintroduces the exact movements and demands of the athlete’s sport in a controlled way. This is sport-specific drills: you start practicing the skills, speed, and decision-making that are unique to the sport, without contact, to see how the brain and body tolerate sport-related loads in a realistic context. It acts as a bridge between general conditioning and full practice, ensuring the athlete can handle sport actions like sprinting, changing direction, and skill execution before moving on to non-contact drills with more complexity or later to full contact after clearance. The other stages come later or are defined differently in various protocols, so this phase is the natural follow-on after a athlete tolerates progressive exertion without symptoms.