HEADCHECK Health

02/20/2026

🏉 As rugby continues to grow globally, concussion reporting remains a critical challenge.

New research highlights alarming rates of unrecognized and unreported concussions, particularly in community rugby where medical support is often limited.

In our latest blog post, Dr. Jennifer Hunnicutt dives into the research and explains why improving reporting systems and team culture may be the key to protecting player health.

Read now ➡️ https://na3.hubs.ly/y0kghH0 ‎

Rugby has become increasingly popular. But with this rise in interest, athletes and stakeholders must be aware of the high risks of concussion in the sport.

02/18/2026

"We have people come back to us and say, 'I need to submit an insurance form.' Well, now we can get that for them. Whereas before, we had no way of tracking all those forms and making sure they were filled out."

We recently welcomed Kiara Jefferies, President of North Bay Junior Lakers Hockey, to our podcast, where she shared insights from her role as a minor hockey president and explained how implementing HEADCHECK has been a game-changer for her organization.

02/13/2026

Managing Return to Play doesn’t have to be complicated.

With HEADCHECK, Test Reminders keep athlete recovery organized with automated email or text notifications, so no check-in is missed.

Send updates instantly or schedule long-term monitoring, all with real-time symptom reporting and a clear visual of progress through the new Symptom Severity Scores chart.

Stay proactive, spot changes early, and keep athletes on track, wherever they are!

02/10/2026

Good news from the slopes! 🎿🏂 Even as skiing and snowboarding continue to grow in popularity, injury rates have dropped by more than 50 percent over the past decade. Advances in equipment, improved slope maintenance and grooming, and greater safety awareness are responsible for helping skiers and riders stay safer than ever.

Source:

Learn essential tips to prevent skiing and snowboarding injuries, protect against common winter sports risks, and stay safe on the slopes this season.

02/06/2026

The HEADCHECK team is wishing all athletes a safe, healthy, and successful Olympic Games. We’re cheering you on every step of the way! 🥇🥈🥉

02/05/2026

🎙️NEW PODCAST EPISODE🎙️On the latest episode of HEADCHECK Health Talks, we’re joined by Kiara Jefferies, President of North Bay Junior Lakers Hockey.

Kiara discusses minor hockey leadership, putting player safety first, and building a strong, respectful culture. She also touches on day-to-day operations, volunteer burnout, tough board decisions, and balancing long-term vision with immediate challenges.

Listen now ➡️ https://na3.hubs.ly/y0hqWf0

02/02/2026

Concussions don’t just affect the body—they can also take a serious toll on an athlete’s mental health. Psychotherapist and former OHL player Ben Fanelli joined our podcast this past fall to unpack the hidden emotional impact of injuries and how they can challenge an athlete’s sense of identity.

01/29/2026

Do scare tactics actually help in concussion education? 🤔
On the latest episode of HEADCHECK Health Talks, we break down the research and explore why clear, balanced messaging may be more effective than fear-based approaches when it comes to understanding and responding to head injuries.

Listen now ➡️ https://na3.hubs.ly/y0h1hn0

01/23/2026

🏐 Concussions in volleyball may be more common than we think!

A recent study (Nedzhipoglu, Gamze et al., 2025) found that 35% of volleyball players reported a past concussion, yet most never received medical care or a formal diagnosis. Only 23–27% sought help, and just 39% were diagnosed by a healthcare professional.

Notably, the study revealed that older and more experienced players reported more concussions, pointing to ongoing gaps in awareness, recognition, and reporting across the sport.

01/21/2026

Did you know? Concussion symptoms can show up right away. They can also appear hours to even days later. Some athletes feel the effects immediately while for others, they are more delayed.

Immediate symptoms can include...
🧠 Memory loss (can’t recall the hit or moments before)
🧠 Confusion or disorientation
🧠 Loss of consciousness (even briefly)
🧠 Vomiting

Symptoms that can appear right away or later include...
🧠 Brain fog, trouble concentrating or remembering
🧠 Dizziness or nausea
🧠 Fatigue or extreme sluggishness
🧠 Headache or pressure in the head
🧠 Migraine symptoms
🧠 Mood changes (irritability, anxiety, emotional swings)
🧠 Sleep issues (sleeping too much or too little)
🧠 Blurry or distorted vision

*If an athlete shows ANY signs of concussion, they should be removed from play immediately.*

01/15/2026

🎙️NEW PODCAST EPISODE🎙️
What if concussion education isn’t working the way we think it is?

University of Waterloo researchers Kaleigh Pennock and Braeden McKenzie join the show to discuss their new study on concussion (mis)education, youth athlete responsibility, and why knowing the signs and symptoms doesn’t always lead to safer choices.

We dig into fear-based messaging, ethical implications, and what meaningful, equitable concussion prevention in sport should actually look like.

Listen now! https://na3.hubs.ly/y0gbnk0

01/13/2026

Welcome to HEADCHECK, Cambrian College 👋

"At Cambrian College we utilize the HEADCHECK Health digital platform for concussion management to deliver a high standard of concussion care to our varsity athletes," said Tim Yu, Manager of Athletics.

"It is helping keep our athletes safe by ensuring they are ready to return to play. This is a great partnership to ensure the health and safety of our athletes."

We’re excited to work with you to strengthen concussion protocol compliance and protect your athletes!