ImPACT™ Concussion Management Program
Cambridge Medical Center is proud to partner with Cambridge-Isanti and Braham high schools to bring this state-of-the-art program to high school athletes.
Click on the links for the information you are looking for:
- Introducing the ImPACT™ Program
- Why should my child be tested?
- Concussion Q & A
- Cambridge-Isanti High School--Information, Consent Form, Testing Schedule
- Braham Area High School--Information, Consent Form, Testing Schedule
- Make a Donation to the Program--The ImPACT™ concussion management program for area high school student athletes was made possible through the Cambridge Medical Center Foundation and the generous contributions of donors to the Foundation.
- Links:
Allina concussion:
Provides overview information about concussion.
ImPACT™ website:
Provides detailed information about the program and features video testimonials of student athletes who returned to play before their concussions were healed and the consequences of those decisions.
Centers for Disease Control In Youth Sports:
This site offers a wealth of information on concussions and includes a well outlined section on concussions in youth sports.
Cambridge-Isanti High School website:
Braham Area High School website:
Introducing the ImPACT™ Concussion Management Program
What is a concussion?
The most common brain injury in contact sports is concussion. A concussion is a brain injury that results in altered brain function without evidence of structural brain damage. Symptoms include: headache, nausea, balance problems and dizziness, sensitivity to light or noise, irritability, depression, feeling sluggish or foggy, inability to focus, sleep disturbances, concentration or memory problems, and confusion. Concussions were once considered a minor condition but more has been learned about concussion in the last 5 years than in the last 50.
Concussions are serious medical problems with potentially permanent consequences, especially in children. Young athletes are more vulnerable to brain injuries than older professionals, and the effects may be long lasting. The brain needs time to rest and recover from a concussion. Re-injury before healing is complete can, in some case, be fatal.
Children are most at risk for long-term effects after concussion
The developing brains of children are particularly vulnerable to the long-term effects of concussion. Children’s brains are not fully developed and take longer to heal. Multiple concussions may increase the risk of chronic headaches, cognitive and memory impairment, permanent dizziness and personality changes.
If a second concussion occurs before a first one is fully healed, a condition called ‘second impact syndrome’ may cause brain swelling and could be fatal.
CT and MRI scans inconclusive
Diagnosing concussions and their severity has traditionally been done by physical exam using a grading system based on the patient’s response to a series of stimuli and tests. These clinical tools are often inadequate in accurately assessing brain impairment, particularly when it is subtle.
The severity of a concussion doesn’t show up on an MRI or CT scan. For coaches, trainers, and parents of student athletes, this makes it difficult to determine when the brain is healed and it is safe for a student athlete to get back in the game.
ImPACT™—a new way to evaluate concussions
ImPACT™ (Immediate Postconcussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing) is a computer program that measures aspects of brain function sensitive to concussion. The ImPACT™ program tests the brain function of student athletes before they participate in sports for a baseline score. It measures brain function in areas such as: attention span, working memory, sustained and selective attention time, non-verbal problem solving, and reaction time. Then, if a head injury occurs, the same measurements are repeated. The ‘before and after’ comparison assesses the degree of any brain impairment and helps determine when it has healed.
ImPACT™ was developed at the University of Pittsburg and is used by many professional sports teams including the NFL, the NHL, and Major League Baseball, the NCAA, and many high schools across the country, including several in the Twin Cities.
The Non-Surgical Orthopedics and Sports Medicine clinic at Cambridge Medical Center is the first clinic in northeastern Minnesota to use the ImPACT™ program to diagnose, treat, and educate student athletes and their families about concussions.
Why should my child be tested?
Concussions were once considered minor conditions (‘getting your bell rung’) but are now recognized as serious medical problems with potentially permanent consequences. The developing brains of high school students are particularly vulnerable to the long term effects of concussion. Their brains are not fully developed and take longer to heal.
Multiple concussions may increase the risk of chronic headaches, cognitive and memory impairment, permanent dizziness and personality changes and potentially the later risk of depression, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s disease, according to recent research.
Recognizing a concussion and giving the brain adequate time to heal is important. It also helps prevent more serious problems associated with a second blow to the head, a condition known as ‘second impact syndrome.’ Second impact syndrome is a serious condition where the brain swells in a matter of minutes and the outcome can be fatal.
ImPACT™ testing offers a more objective assessment of when brain recovery has occurred which helps doctors, coaches, parents, and trainers make better and safer decisions as to when it is safe for a student athlete to return to play. Children who return to play before they have made a full recovery are at risk for prolonging their recovery and are more susceptible to the serious effects of second impact syndrome.
Baseline testing is offered at no cost to all Cambridge-Isanti and Braham high school athletes, thanks to the Cambridge Medical Center Foundation and those who generously contributed to the ImPACT™ program.
Test Your Knowledge about Concussions
True or False:
There needs to be a loss of consciousness to call it a concussion?
False. The severity of a concussion is not directly proportional to how hard the head is hit. Concussions can occur after what initially appears to be a mild blow to the head. Most recently, actress Natasha Richardson died following what was considered a relatively minor fall when skiing.
There is a magic number of concussions that means the athlete can no longer participate in contact sports?
False. The degree to which the brain heals is a better indicator of when an athlete should refrain from participating in sports than the number of concussions. One severe concussion may be enough to sideline an athlete?
Kids brains can ‘handle’ concussions better than adult brains can?
False. Children’s brains are not fully developed and take longer to heal than adult brains. They are more vulnerable to injury than adults.
It’s kind of funny when somebody ‘gets their bell rung.’?
False. Brain injuries are no laughing matter. Multiple concussions may increase the risk of chronic headaches, cognitive and memory impairment, permanent dizziness and personality changes and potentially the later risk of depression, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s disease.
Playing with a concussion is a sign of toughness?
False. It’s a sign of a risky and potentially dangerous decision. Adolescents do not have the maturity to make wise decisions about their health care, especially when they are caught up in the emotion and excitement of a sport, and even more so when they have a head injury. They don’t want to disappoint their teammates, parents, coaches and others and will often not admit when they are hurt. They do not have a clear understanding of what a concussion actually is or what can happen if it is not managed correctly.
Information for Cambridge-Isanti High School Athletes and Parents
Concussion Management CIHS consent form
Concussion Management letter to CIHS parents
Baseline Testing Schedule at Cambridge-Isanti High School
Baseline testing will begin this summer for fall 2009 sports. Information will be posted as soon as the schedule has been set.
Information for Braham Area High School Athletes and Parents
Concussion Management letter to Braham parents
Concussion Management Braham consent form
Baseline Testing Schedule at Braham High School
Testing will begin this summer for athletes in fall sports for the 2009-10 school year. The schedule will be posted as soon as it’s available.
Your help is needed to continue this important program!
The Cambridge Medical Center Foundation has led the effort to raise funds to bring this important program to Cambridge-Isanti and Braham high schools. Donations are still being sought to help cover the cost of baseline screenings for high school athletes.
If you can help, please make your check out to the CMC Foundation and mail it to:
Cambridge Medical Center Foundation
Attn: Dennis Doran
701 South Dellwood
Cambridge, MN 55008
You donation is 100% tax deductible.
Thank you for supporting this new program for area youth!
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