Charleston, S.C./ Aug. 11, 2009 – Trident Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation has become certified in the use of ImPACT, a computer-based neuropsychological test that makes managing concussions and determining return-to-play status more accurate for the physician and safer for the athlete because it provides an objective tool to measure brain reaction and function.

In the United States, it is estimated 300,000 sports-related concussions occur each year. The likelihood of an athlete in a contact sport experiencing a concussion – a disturbance in brain function after a blow to the head – may be as high as 19 percent.

The ImPACT test, which takes about 20 minutes, runs subjects through a battery of cognitive, memory and reflex tests. All at-risk athletes can take the test prior to the start of their respective athletic seasons to provide a baseline measurement. Those athletes who suffer an injury to the head can take the test a second time and it is then compared to that initial baseline test done prior to the injury. Most professional sports leagues – the NFL, NHL and NBA – mandate the use of this test both at the beginning of the season and after a head injury.

Dr. Joe Calandra, medical director at Trident Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation, believes strongly in using the ImPACT as a tool in all contact and collision sports – not just as a physician, but as a parent as well. His son sustained a head injury (concussion) while playing collegiate soccer, and Calandra insisted he be tested with ImPACT.

“He had abnormalities throughout all facets of the test. Seven days after the concussion, he was feeling better and wanted to play,” Calandra said. “Clinically, he was cleared to play, however I wanted him retested. Even though he had no signs or symptoms, the second test showed he was improving, however he continued to have deficits.”

Calandra kept his son off the soccer field another week and had the ImPACT test done a third time before his son was cleared to play.

Returning to play after a concussion (technically a metabolic brain injury) that hasn’t properly healed can be quite dangerous for players who may suffer a second head injury. This may lead to a “second impact syndrome,” which often results in a cognitive injury to the brain that can be permanent or sometimes even death.

Symptoms of a concussion include headache, nausea, dizziness, sensitivity to light or noise, fuzzy vision, feeling sluggish, trouble concentrating, confused, clumsy, behavior or personality changes or loses consciousness.

Concussions are difficult to treat. Typical imaging tests, such as a CT or MRI, can help diagnose a serious skull fracture or hematoma, but aren’t helpful in assessing the effects of a concussion. Plus, they are more expensive.

“Studies have shown the ImPACT testing correlates well with functional MRI testing and it’s a much less expensive,” Calandra said. “I believe it’s a more sensitive and accurate way of determining the injury to the brain and access if the brain has recovered from the metabolic injury than clinical exam alone.”

Trident Health System is an HCA hospital system comprised of two acute care hospitals – Trident Medical Center and Summerville Medical Center – as well as Moncks Corner Medical Center.  Accredited by The Joint Commission, Trident Health System is committed to providing quality health services along with wellness information and opportunities to the communities it serves. For more information about Trident Health System, please visit our website at www.tridenthealthsystem.com or call 843.797.7000.