When a student athlete sustains a bump, jolt or blow to the head through contact with a ball, another body or the ground, it can cause a concussion, or a mild traumatic brain injury. Concussions can also be caused through a whiplash effect, for instance, after a car accident.

Now, thanks to technology and science, school districts are working to make sports safer for student athletes, specifically their brains.

Here’s how it works: A computerized concussion assessment tool called ImPACT is done preseason to capture a student athlete’s neurological function in key areas before being exposed to potential injury. These findings are valuable for medical professionals to compare against results of the same test a student would take after sustaining a head injury.

“We use the ImPACT test as an objective measurement during the concussion evaluation and management process,” said Stephanie Stefanelli, a certified athletic trainer at UCHealth SportsMed Clinic in Steamboat Springs. “It helps individualize our approach through baseline and post-injury testing.”

What is ImPACT?

Through the ImPACT program at Steamboat Springs School District, all student athletes ages 12-and-older participating in contact sports in local school districts are required to participate in the 30-minute test every two years.

Contact sports might include football and volleyball in the fall; basketball, hockey and wrestling in the winter; or lacrosse, baseball, soccer and track in the spring.

The test measures the student athlete’s neurological functions in four areas: memory, processing speed, reaction time, and visual and verbal problem solving. The baseline findings are stored in the ImPACT system.

“If a student sustains a suspected concussion or head injury, we remove them from play and ask them to follow up with their primary care provider,” said Stefanelli. “If the provider is trained on ImPACT to interpret the results, they can compare the pre- and post-injury findings to determine the extent of the injury. This tool, along with a thorough clinical evaluation, can help guide a student athlete’s concussion management plan.”

Stefanelli, who supports students within the Steamboat Springs School District, said coaches, athletic trainers, doctors and clinical specialists must weigh safety concerns against the strong desire of most students who want to return quickly to the field, court or rink. The potential damage to a young person’s brain, both short and long term, means that a thorough protocol must be followed to maximize the best outcome.

“Returning to sport before the brain has recovered can lead to complications,” said Stefanelli. “Additionally, if a second injury is sustained before the first one has healed, consequences can be very serious.”

What to look for in your student

Stefanelli advises parents to keep an eye on children who are involved in contact sports and may notice them “not acting like themselves.” Signs of a concussion may include:

• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Balance problems or dizziness
• Blurry vision
• Sensitivity to light and/or noise
• Fatigue
• Memory problems
• Delayed mental processing or focus
• Altered sleep patterns
• Mood changes

Concussion protocol

Recovery and return to sport can range from a couple weeks to months, depending on the severity of the concussion. Athletic trainers and trained medical professionals work as a team to guide student athletes through a five-stage return to sport protocol that includes:

• Light aerobic activity
• Moderate aerobic activity
• Strengthening and cardio activity
• Non-contact practice
• Full-contact practice

“This process helps challenge the student athlete physically, while monitoring symptoms in a systematic and safe manner,” said Stefanelli. “Concussion management requires a team approach. When the student athlete, parents, coaches, medical providers, certified athletic trainers and school personnel all work together, we can more effectively manage the injury and return the student athlete to their sport safely and in a timely manner.”

For more information on ImPACT testing, please visit your school’s website and look under the “Athletics” tab for detailed information.

Mary Gay Broderick writes for UCHealth. She can be reached at marygaybroderick@comcast.net.