As the fall sports season begins, many young athletes involved in high-contact sports, such as football or hockey, will be at risk for concussions. New research shows that receiving multiple concussions, especially before an athlete has recovered from the initial concussion, has debilitating consequences for the athlete's physical and cognitive health.
New assessment techniques, such as the ImPACT test, give physicians the ability to more accurately evaluate when an individual athlete is fully recovered from a concussion.
The ImPACT test is a computer-based program measuring verbal and visual memory, processing speed and reaction time at 1/100th of a second. The test can be administered by an athletic trainer, school nurse, team coach or physician. The cognitive capabilities of the test measures the athlete's attention span, working memory and non-verbal problem solving.
"In the past, the physician had the athlete run to see when he or she got a headache," says Joshua Siegel, MD, a sports medicine physician with Access Sports Medicine in Exeter, N.H. "These new tests make sure the athlete's condition, memory and physical abilities are back to normal."
More specific indicators of an athlete's condition are advantageous because he or she may feel the symptoms, such as dizziness, of a concussion have disappeared before the injury has had enough time to heal. Athletes in this situation could be more likely to return to their activity before fully recovering from the concussion. Coaches may also push athletes to return too early if the athlete seems to have physically recovered.
Preseason testing is crucial for athletes at risk of receiving a concussion because each athlete responds to concussions differently. By testing an athlete's physical and cognitive abilities before incurring injury, physicians can better judge when the athlete has recovered for his or her individual capabilities .
"These assessments help the coaches understand why the athletes need to continue to remain on the sidelines," says Dr. Siegel.
Learn more about ImPACT.
Learn more about Access Sports Medicine.
Read more coverage on concussion treatment:
- ER Visits for Young Athletes With Concussions Increase
- Washington Physicians, High Schools Collaborate to Assess Athlete’s Concussion Severity
- Research Links ASL-Like Disease to Competitive Athletes
New assessment techniques, such as the ImPACT test, give physicians the ability to more accurately evaluate when an individual athlete is fully recovered from a concussion.
The ImPACT test is a computer-based program measuring verbal and visual memory, processing speed and reaction time at 1/100th of a second. The test can be administered by an athletic trainer, school nurse, team coach or physician. The cognitive capabilities of the test measures the athlete's attention span, working memory and non-verbal problem solving.
"In the past, the physician had the athlete run to see when he or she got a headache," says Joshua Siegel, MD, a sports medicine physician with Access Sports Medicine in Exeter, N.H. "These new tests make sure the athlete's condition, memory and physical abilities are back to normal."
More specific indicators of an athlete's condition are advantageous because he or she may feel the symptoms, such as dizziness, of a concussion have disappeared before the injury has had enough time to heal. Athletes in this situation could be more likely to return to their activity before fully recovering from the concussion. Coaches may also push athletes to return too early if the athlete seems to have physically recovered.
Preseason testing is crucial for athletes at risk of receiving a concussion because each athlete responds to concussions differently. By testing an athlete's physical and cognitive abilities before incurring injury, physicians can better judge when the athlete has recovered for his or her individual capabilities .
"These assessments help the coaches understand why the athletes need to continue to remain on the sidelines," says Dr. Siegel.
Learn more about ImPACT.
Learn more about Access Sports Medicine.
Read more coverage on concussion treatment:
- ER Visits for Young Athletes With Concussions Increase
- Washington Physicians, High Schools Collaborate to Assess Athlete’s Concussion Severity
- Research Links ASL-Like Disease to Competitive Athletes