ImPACT® Testing for Athletes
What is ImPACT® testing?
Preventing a concussion is impossible. Determining when it’s safe to return to play following a concussion is now possible with ImPACT® testing.
ImPACT®, a nationally recognized standard for concussion testing, is a 20-minute research-based computer test used to help evaluate an athlete’s recovery after a concussion. Athletes are given a baseline test in the preseason, and, later, if a concussion is suspected, a follow-up test is conducted to determine if there have been changes to the baseline. This information helps doctors diagnose and treat the concussion, and it can help decide when athletes are medically cleared to return to action following a head injury. Follow-up tests can be administered over days or weeks so doctors can continue to track the athlete’s recovery.
Tri Rivers Concussion Care Program
Dr. Megan Groh Miller, Tri Rivers primary care sports medicine specialist, offers this nationally recognized standard for baseline and concussion testing to youth athletic associations, club teams, school sports and other facilities in our area. Testing is available at two Tri Rivers offices: BHS Crossroads Campus and Slippery Rock.
The Concussion Care Program provides:
- Initial evaluation of the injury
- Neuropsychological evaluation and ImPACT testing -- both baseline and post-injury
- Ongoing management and monitoring of symptoms through recovery
Additional ImPACT® testing information
Many organizations use ImPACT® testing, including the NFL, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, U.S. Rugby, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Ski Team. Additionally, more than 550 colleges and universities and 1,800 U.S. high schools use ImPACT® testing for their athletes.
ImPACT® can help determine when an athlete is ready to return to play, offering the protection from serious consequences of returning too soon. Traditional neurological and radiological procedures, like CT scans and MRIs, are helpful in identifying serious brain injuries, such as skull fractures and hematomas, but they are ineffective when it comes to identifying functional effects of a concussion. Conducting baseline and post-injury ImPACT® testing helps doctors objectively evaluate an athlete’s cognitive status.
About 10 percent of all student athletes who play contact sports suffer a concussion and can experience dizziness, headaches, double vision, memory problems, irritability and depression. Recovery can take days or weeks, and returning to play prematurely can lead to potentially serious consequences.
To request an appointment for ImPACT® testing, call 1-866-874-7483 or click here.