Return-to-learn (RTL) strategy
| Step | Mental activity | Activity at each step | Goal |
| 1 | Daily activities that do not result in more than a mild exacerbation* of symptoms related to the current concussion | Typical activities during the day (eg, reading) while minimising screen time. Start with 5–15 min at a time and increase gradually. | Gradual return to typical activities |
| 2 | School activities | Homework, reading or other cognitive activities outside of the classroom. | Increase tolerance to cognitive work |
| 3 | Return to school part time | Gradual introduction of schoolwork. May need to start with a partial school day or with greater access to rest breaks during the day. | Increase academic activities |
| 4 | Return to school full time | Gradually progress in school activities until a full day can be tolerated without more than mild* symptom exacerbation. | Return to full academic activities and catch up on missed work |
Following an initial period of relative rest (24–48 hours following an injury at Step 1), athletes can begin a gradual and incremental increase in their cognitive load. Progression through the strategy for students should be slowed when there is more than a mild and brief symptom exacerbation.
*Mild and brief exacerbation of symptoms is defined as an increase of no more than 2 points on a 0–10 point scale (with 0 representing no symptoms and 10 the worst symptoms imaginable) for less than an hour when compared with the baseline value reported prior to cognitive activity.