ImPACT Concussion Testing Overview
Concussions are common injuries, especially for young athletes. This type of traumatic brain injury occurs when your brain moves around the inside of the skull, often caused by a fall or hit to the head. While concussions usually are not life threatening, getting seen by a medical provider to assess your injury and get treatment is important to avoid long-term complications.
With all the press and controversy surrounding athletics and head injuries, it’s no surprise that concussions are a major healthcare issue today. A heightened awareness of this concern has increased accountability of clubs, teams, schools and athletic organizations across the country.
Head injuries can be serious, and lead to major consequences. To address this concern and ensure the highest level of care for our athletes across north Georgia, our providers at Northeast Georgia Physicians Group (NGPG) Sports Medicine provide ImPACT baseline concussion testing free of charge.
What are the symptoms of a concussion?
Because concussions are caused by trauma to the brain, the most common and often first symptom is head pain. Some common symptoms of a concussion may include:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Blurry vision
- Loss of consciousness
- Ringing ears (tinnitus)
- Light sensitivity
- Confusion
- Sleepiness and fatigue
- Irritability
What causes a concussion?
Concussions occur when an activity or collision shakes your body, causing your brain to move around inside of your skull and damaging it. Your brain is made up of soft tissues that are protected by the cerebrospinal fluid between it and the skull. When a strong force hits the body, movement of this energy to your skull can cause this fluid and your brain to shake, damaging small blood vessels and nerves. Some of the common causes of concussions may include:
- Falls
- Vehicle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Physical assaults
- Sports injuries
- Whiplash
Who’s at risk for a concussion?
While anyone can experience a concussion, some people tend to get them more than others. These factors may increase your risk of concussions:
- Being over the age of 65
- Being under the age of 4
- Being an athlete
- Having a physically demanding occupation
ImPACT Testing for Concussion Diagnosis
NGPG Sports Medicine is proud to offer ImPACT, or Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing. The computerized ImPACT test produces a baseline of brain activity for each athlete. If an injury occurs, our providers are prepared to utilize the athlete’s baseline report as a comparison for a second ImPACT test. This allows our doctors the ability to accurately assess any changes or damage caused by a concussion, thereby improving treatment options and outcomes.
Baseline Testing
NGPG Sports Medicine offers baseline ImPACT testing free of charge for all our athletes. Baseline testing is recommended prior to the season or activity to establish a baseline or benchmark of the athlete’s cognitive performance. Baseline testing is important for athletes, especially those that play impact sports due to the risks of experiencing a concussion. With your athlete’s baseline recorded, our experts and NGPG Sports Medicine can compare normal brain function to activity recorded if an accident occurs.
Post-Injury Testing
If an injury occurs and you suspect a concussion, a second round of ImPACT testing will be administered. This post-injury testing will monitor brain function and compare it to the baseline levels, allowing for a quicker and more accurate assessment of damage to the brain. Your provider may continue to administer post-injury ImPACT tests to monitor your recovery and determine when you can get back to regular activities.
What does ImPACT test for?
The computerized ImPACT test assesses a few different areas of cognitive function. These aspects include:
- Length and quality of focus
- Verbal and visual memory
- Focus and ability to ignore distractions
- Speed of reaction to stimuli
- Problem solving without language
- Ability to retain and manipulate information
How is a concussion treated?
Unfortunately, there is no medical treatment that can cure a concussion instantly. In most cases, you will need several days of little or no activity to let the brain heal. Your medical provider will likely recommend a timeline for how long you should rest and avoid certain activities. To help your brain recover, your doctor may suggest avoiding things that require concentration for a few days post-injury. Some of the things to avoid doing after a concussion are:
- Using a phone
- Watching TV or playing video games
- Reading or studying
- Exercise or physical activity
- Driving or traveling
- Drinking alcohol
Choose NGPG Sports Medicine for Concussion Testing
For many athletes, sport-related injuries are a common occurrence. While many of these injuries are minor, head traumas can be more serious if left untreated. Having a healthcare professional assess your concussion can help them formulate the best treatment for your specific brain injury and symptoms.
For athletes across North Georgia, NGPG Sports Medicine is a trusted provider of concussion assessment and treatment. We offer free access to advanced ImPACT baseline testing for those at higher risk of head trauma, providing a crucial foundation for our providers to build on in case of an accident or injury. With our expert team and access to this technological advancement, you can trust NGPG Sports Medicine to provide accurate diagnosis and tailored treatment options for you or your loved one’s concussion.