Concussion Services
Symptoms of a concussion are not always definite. Knowing when it is safe for an athlete to return to play is not always clear, and sending the athlete back into the game too soon may expose the player to a second concussion, putting that athlete at risk for a more severe brain injury.
At the UPMC Center for Sports Medicine, a team of leading neuropsychologists, neurosurgeons, and scientific researchers have developed a comprehensive approach in the assessment, treatment, and prevention of sports-related concussions.
One of our core tools in the Sports Concussion Program is ImPACT™ (Immediate Post-concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing), a simple, yet sophisticated computerized test to accurately detect sports-related concussions. ImPACT enables doctors to conduct a 20-minute baseline evaluation of an athlete’s neurocognitive state — brain processing speed, memory, and visual motor skills — that physicians and athletic trainers can revisit in the event of a concussion during the season.
UPMC sports concussion researchers oversee the neuropsychological testing programs for the National Football League, the National Hockey League, and Major League Baseball; as well as colleges, universities, and high schools in all 50 states and Canada.
ImPACT™ is a trademark of ImPACT Applications, Inc.