Camden, N.J. — You bought your child the uniform and safety gear. You shuttle her back and forth for games and practices. But have you thought about concussions and what you can do to protect your child?
With concussion injuries on the rise in young athletes, Cooper University Hospital’s Bone & Joint Institute is using the most scientifically validated computerized evaluation system to test athletes in South Jersey.
On Monday, September 26, 2011, Cooper Bone & Joint Institute’s sports medicine physician and concussion specialist John Neidecker, DO, distributed ImPACT baseline concussion tests to over 40 female athletes from Highland Youth Soccer Clubs. ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing) is a computerized test that measures brain function and is used to evaluate concussion symptoms. The initial test will serve as a baseline for comparison if an athlete should suffer a concussion in the upcoming season.
“My daughter Giana suffered a concussion a year and a half ago, and has to take this test every ten days,” said Estee Stellato, Turnersville, N.J. Her daughter Giana, 11, was among the girls completing the tests during Monday night’s event. “It’s important for athletes to have this test done prior to an injury so physicians and trainers can gauge if the concussion is severe.”
Only a short, 20-minute test, ImPACT has become a standard tool used in comprehensive clinical management of concussions for athletes of all ages. It includes a demographic section and a series of cognitive tests that focus on measuring each individual’s attention span, working memory, sustained and selective attention time, response variability, non-verbal problem solving and reaction time.
“The ImPACT test will continue to allow us to increase awareness and prevention in South Jersey,” said David B. Gealt, DO, Director, Concussion Program at Cooper Bone & Joint Institute. “It not only educates parents on the symptoms to look for in their children if they get hurt, but it aids athletic trainers and health professionals as a tool in helping to determine when players can return to the game by comparing it to post-test results.”
Groups interested in setting up ImPACT tests can contact orthosports@cooperhealth.edu. The price for testing is based on grouping: groups with over 25 people are $10 per test and those under 25 are $15 per test.