Computers help diagnose concussions

Logan Roberts was penciled in as a starting defensive tackle at East Ridge High School. As of midweek, though, he had practiced just 30 minutes and his career was in jeopardy.

“After the first 30 minutes of practice, he started getting headaches. Due to concussion symptoms last year, we sent him to the doctor,” Pioneers coach Mike Martin said.

While awaiting results of an MRI, the doctor told Roberts not to hold his breath about playing this year, Martin said.

There is a computer program that can help analyze concussions and help determine when or if an athlete can return to the field. The program is called ImPACT — Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing — and is becoming a standard tool in the management of concussions for athletes of all ages.

All NFL, NHL and major league baseball teams are using the program, as are numerous NCAA programs such as Tennessee and Georgia.

Prep schools Baylor, McCallie and Boyd-Buchanan, which draw trainers from Parkridge Medical Center, are the only three local schools currently using the program.

“We got the package last year and we work through Parkridge,” said Lori Moss, one of Baylor’s trainers. “Parkridge decided to use the program and asked the schools that used their services if they wanted to use this program.”

Parkridge physicians are certified to use the program and to interpret results of testing.

“The way I understand it, when they test them, they can tell if they have a concussion or just a headache,” Boyd-Buchanan coach Grant Reynolds said.

Players are given a six-part cognitive test long before they might have a concussion and that test establishes a base line for each athlete’s normal brain function. The test covers attention span, working memory, sustain and selective attention time, response variability, nonverbal problem solving and reaction time.

“The pre-test gives them a starting point and from that they can tell how severe a concussion is and how long the player needs to be held out,” Reynolds said.

Boyd-Buchanan players went through the base line exams last spring while Baylor and McCallie players took the first exam prior to the start of two-a-days in the summer.

The base line tests are used if the trainer or coach thinks a player might have suffered a concussion.

“You do another test and compare the two. In our case, we’d send the results to (a doctor) and he would make the determination on when an athlete could return or when he would need to be re-evaluated,” Moss said.

Ooltewah, which affiliates with the Center for Sports Medicine for its athletic trainer, used the concussion-testing program in the past but isn’t currently enrolled.

“We just didn’t have the (computer) facilities for it,” Ooltewah trainer Randy Wilkes said. “We’re trying to get to a point where we can use it (at Ooltewah).

“It’s super-easy to use once you get organized and it’s a very good program,” he said. “If you can get a yearly base line for each player you’re ahead of the curve. The big thing is getting a (computer) lab in the summer and getting every kid in.”

Base lines are more important for middle school and high school players because their brains are still developing, so more changes are expected in the base line from year to year.

“It’s a little different in college because the athletes are older and there are norms that are established,” Wilkes said.

According to the ImPACT website, schools can sign up for a yearly package for as little as $500. The first year includes base line tests for up to 300 athletes and 90 post-injury tests. Additional base line tests are $2 and additional post-injury tests are $10.

“I don’t know if they could make it mandatory, but I think it should be strongly suggested,” Wilkes said. “It’s a good tool for getting people back safely and the benefit outweighs the cost.”

Concussion

A concussion is a brain injury that is caused by a sudden blow to the head or to the body. The blow shakes the brain inside the skull, which temporarily prevents the brain from working normally. Repeated concussions or a severe concussion may require surgery or lead to long-lasting problems with movement, learning or speaking.

Source: WebMD.com