At South Brunswick, the health and safety of our athletes has always been our top priority.
Online testing instructions – click here
In recent years, medical science has increasingly confirmed the
potential, long-term effects of repeated, untreated head injuries among
athletes. Because of this, we have been pro-active and aggressive in
taking measures to assess the severity of concussions and promote a safe
return to play.
Several years ago, South Brunswick implemented a software program to
assess head injuries, called ImPACT. This program tests all athletes
pre-season and obtains a baseline measurement of neuro-cognitive
function. During the season, if an athlete has a suspected head injury,
he/she is retested and the result is compared to that original, baseline
measurement. A Viking athlete is not allowed to return to play after a
head injury until his/her measurement return to the baseline "normal"
status.
The ImPACT software has been successfully used in college and
professional athletics to help protect athletes and support their safe
return to play. At South Brunswick, we are committed to using the same
software to protect the health and safety of our students.
We hope that the following FAQs will provide the answers to any questions you may have about ImPACT:
- What is ImPACT?
ImPACT (Immediate Post Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing), is a
software tool which was developed by the University of Pittsburgh
Medical Center (UPMC). ImPACT is used in many professional, collegiate
and high school sports programs across the country, to successfully
diagnose and manage concussions. If an athlete is believed to have
suffered a head injury, ImPACT is used to help determine its severity
and help monitor the healing process.
- How does ImPACT work?
During pre-season, before any physical contact is sustained, an athlete
takes a 30-minute computerized test that measures brain processing,
speed, memory and visual motor skills. The ImPACT testing procedures are
non-invasive and pose no risks to your son/daughter. The results are
collected and stored by our athletic trainers and physician. If an
athlete experiences a head injury or concussion during the season,
he/she is re-tested and the result is compared to the preseason baseline
data. Doing this allows physicians to determine the athlete's
neuro-cognitive status and determine when it is safe for the player to
return to active sports.
- How is the ImPACT date used?
If an injury of this nature occurs to your son or daughter, you will be
promptly contacted with all the details. The pre-season and post-injury
test data may be sent to a neuropsychologist or neurosurgeon at the
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) to help evaluate the
injury. The information can also be shared with an athlete's physician.
The test data will enable these health professionals to determine when
return-to-play is appropriate and safe for an injured athlete.
In order to ensure your child's anonymity, we have set up and use an
anonymous data submission system. The anonymous information gathered
from the ImPACT program may also be used in studies currently being
conducted by both South Brunswick and the University of Pittsburgh
Medical Center.
- Which Athletes Must Complete ImPACT?
Athletes who plan to participate in any of the contact sports must
complete the ImPACT baseline evaluation on-line, prior to the start of
season:
- How Does an Athlete Take the ImPACT Test?
The test is an on-line baseline test. Click on link on the top of the page for instructions for online testing.