By: Brian Bowers ’16
Concussions in high school athletics are a growing concern, and are increasing throughout all sports besides football. Unlike most sports injuries, there is a fairly blurred line between whether an athlete has a concussion or not, as opposed to a broken bone which is relatively easy to determine. To get the most accurate diagnoses of head trauma, Prep has been using the “ImPACT” program for the last few years.
To an athlete ImPACT testing may just seem like a series of games and colorful lights, however, on the scientific level it is a computer based program that measures cognitive recognition, memory, accuracy and speed.
Most athletes playing a contact sport at Prep must take this ImPACT test to determine their pre-concussion standard. When an athlete is suspected of having a concussion they will retake the test and compare the results. If the results turn out favorable, or similar to the original standard, the athlete will move onto physical preparation to return to play. The athletes will then be tested on balance and fine motor skills.
In order to return to their sport, an athlete must be symptom free for an entire week. Some of the most common symptoms of concussions include dizziness, fatigue, headache, double vision, blurred vision, memory loss, speech impairment, and balance and coordination issues.
After a week has gone by symptom free, the athletes take the ImPACT test again, and if the results prove to be positive, they can return to play.
With the competition in high school sports growing every year it is important to always remember that safety comes first above all. The ImPACT testing method clears up the blurred line around concussions and head trauma in high school sports, and makes all sports much safer.