Return-to-Learn: A Post-Concussion Academic Recovery Program at the U.S. Air Force Academy

Extract

The goal of return-to-learn is to help cadets enrolled at the U.S. Air Force Academy with their academic recovery post-concussion. This program was created for several reasons.

First, cadets are at a higher risk for concussion injury compared with typical college students due to their increased level of physical activity. All cadets participate in sports as a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) athlete or as a competitor in club or intramural sports. Graduation requirements stipulate that all cadets complete 10 physical education classes and several strenuous military training events. To put this in context, during the 2016–2017 academic year, there were 277 diagnosed concussions at the Air Force Academy. This continues to be a prevalent diagnosis within the Department of Defense as there were 15,460 mild traumatic brain injuries in 2016.¹

Second, cadets have demanding schedules. In addition to athletics, they take full academic course loads and have military responsibilities. Attendance at all of these activities is mandatory. Thus, there is little time available to rest post-injury.