Baseline Testing for Concussion; a good idea for your young athlete
Mar 14, 2016
Can we manage concussions before they occur??! Sounds strange, but in doing a baseline test before a concussion occurs, we may be better able to manage and re-asses if one happens to our children.
Concussions are receiving a lot attention these days. with many stories in the media, books and even movies related to the detrimental effects of mistreated concussions. New information, research and education about concussions are being seen and used by sports organizations, rehabilitation specialists, in emergency rooms and doctor offices.
Currently and unfortunately there are no specific diagnostic tests for concussions; You can't simply do an MRI, a CT scan or blood work to gain more information regarding the concussion, so this is where baseline testing is becoming more popular for young athletes.
Contact sports are proving to be a huge cause of concussions in our youths and parents immediately ask the question post concussion: “When can my child play again?”
Although it is still challenging to determine exactly when to ‘return to play’, concussion baseline testing may give more objective and accurate assessments post concussion.
Two commonly used tests are the ‘SCAT 3 and the imPACT assessment. The tests are relatively simple and inexpensive to complete.
The SCAT 3 is a standardized tool for evaluating injured athletes for concussion and can be used in athletes aged from 13 years and older. The SCAT includes a number of tests and scores both physically and cognitively: Patient background, the Glasgow coma scale, the Maddocks score, symptom evaluation scoring, a cognitive assessment, a neck examination, a balance examination, a co-ordination test and a delayed recall test. The SCAT3 test takes 15-20 min to complete and is designed for use by medical and health professionals. It can be done easily with a Physiotherapist with little equipment.
The other baseline test is the computer-based test called imPACT: Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing. This test is a neuro-cognitive evaluation system that takes athletes through a series of exercises using colours, numbers and shapes to test their short-term memory and how easily they can be distracted. It is done on a computer.
Both tests (If done as a baseline) would be completed in the off season or before the sport has started, and re-done in the event of a concussion for an objective comparison. After a concussion has occurred, the tests can be repeated several times while healing, to determine the changes in signs and symptoms. Based on these results, a return to play plan can be determined following specific guidelines.
Although no one ever wants to think of their child sustaining a concussion from sport, these simple tests may give you more objective testing and peace of mind in the unfortunate case a concussion did occur.
You can receive baseline testing by a qualified physical therapist at any of our four clinics. Or make arrangements to have your entire team tested in the pre-season.
For more information, call our clinics at 780 458 8505 to book an appointment or speak with one of our qualified Physiotherapists.
Check out Meghan Kiss, MScPT's blog post on common concussion myths here.
For more information on concussions, check out the Canadian Medical Association's website here.
Also check out the recent Ottawa citizen article which reveals new research on concussion recovery here.
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