Post-Concussion Assessment And Cognitive Testing

The National Collegiate Athletic Association, NCAA, sanctions an Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing, ImPACT, test to be given before an athletic season begins. This test includes six different types of assessments, which quiz the mind on reaction time, memory, and attention to detail. This test is usually repeated after a diagnosed concussion to verify the symptoms have subsided and the athlete can start the process of returning to his or her sport. A Post Concussion Symptom Scale, PCSS, acts as another mandatory test that allows the athletes to rate the seriousness of their symptoms (Schatz). Together the ImPACT and PCSS test allow physicians to study the athlete’s symptoms and brain functions to diagnose the concussion
and the recovery time allotted for the injury.
Another movement that is present is Heads Up, which was started by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, to inform high school coaches about the seriousness of concussions (Sarmiento). The program consists of practical information that is easy to share concerning the possible brain injuries as a result of playing football. A study in 2010 examined the effectiveness of the tool kit and the impact of sharing the information about concussions. The study revealed that coaches learned more about concussions through the presentable material and were content with sharing their findings. The coaches felt the burden to share the material and to inform the athletes of the risks that playing football carries. Some of the coaches mentioned their efforts to implement less head to head contact in practices as well as to ensure the equipment promoted safety and protection of the athletes (Sarmiento). However, the process of informing athletes and their parents can only be taken to a certain extent. The coach can tell the athlete about concussions, but in the end it is his or her decision if they will chance the risks.