Concussion Services at UPMC

Whether you're an athlete or not, UPMC is here for your concussion care.

A mild traumatic brain injury, a concussion can happen if you take a direct or indirect hit to your head or body. Athletes often wind up with concussions from falls or blows to the head.

But no two concussions are the same. We want to know how your injury occurred, how you're feeling, and what your goals are. That way we can customize a concussion treatment plan just for you.

How the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program Can Help You

We know that having a concussion can disrupt your daily life. Our program helps athletes and non-athletes do things like:

• Safely return to their sport.
• Return to playing with kids or grandkids.
• Get back to their exercise routine.
• Make it through a full workday again.

Our program was the first of its kind when we opened our doors in 2000. Since then, we’ve become a global leader in diagnosing, treating, and researching concussion.

Now, we see people from around the world — virtually and in-person — to get them back to the sports or activities they love.

The key is getting the right care early and following an active treatment plan that's tailored to you.

What to Expect When You Come to UPMC for Concussion Care

When you come to the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program, you get customized, cutting-edge care to help you heal.

You'll meet with a range of experts throughout your concussion journey. We'll diagnose your type of concussion and tailor your treatment to help you recover fully.

By working together, we make your transition of care as seamless as possible. You'll also see most of our experts on the same day, in the same clinic.

Our experts include:

• Neuropsychologists — Psychologists with special training in how brain injuries affect behavior; they lead your clinical exam and learn about your symptoms.
• Neuroradiologists — Radiologists are doctor who have special training in using imaging to diagnose problems related to the brain. You may see them for symptoms that worsen or don’t go away.
• Neurosurgeons and orthopaedic surgeons — Neurosurgeons specialize in conditions related to the nervous system; orthopaedic surgeons specialize in conditions that affect your musculoskeletal system. You might meet with them to discuss further injuries or symptoms.
• Physical therapists — Physical therapists help you with problems related to focus, dizziness, and balance. We have PTs who specialize in vestibular rehab, which is rehab for your balance system.
• Primary care sports medicine doctors and physiatrists — Our sports medicine doctors help you manage concussion symptoms. Physiatrists, or doctors who specialize in movement and function, help you get back to daily activities.

Learn more about concussion diagnosis, symptoms, and treatment.

Concussion Services We Offer

Concussions are complex, and the advice about what to do for concussion can be confusing. That's why it's important to seek treatment right away from an expert trained in concussion management.

Some of the services we offer include:

• Concussion assessment — We invented a tool called ImPACT® (immediate post-concussion assessment and cognitive testing) to help assess concussion. It provides doctors and athletic trainers with best practices to help them make safe return-to-play decisions.
• ImPACT baseline testing — This test measures your brain in a normal, healthy state, before a concussion. The NFL, NHL, and more than 8,400 high schools and colleges across the U.S. have mandated ImPACT baseline testing.
• Vestibular screening for concussions — We designed a tool called vestibular ocular motion screening (VOMS) to detect concussion symptoms.
• Academic accommodations for student-athletes — We can provide prescriptions for accommodations students may need, such as rest periods, special classroom seating, longer deadlines, and accommodations related to light and noise sensitivity.
• Individualized concussion management and treatment — We offer a full range of active concussion management programs and treatments. With six different types of concussions accounting for dozens of different symptoms, it’s important to get the treatment that works for you. 

Why Choose UPMC for Concussion Management?

The UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program is one of a kind, and we’re widely known for our:

• National leadership — We receive more than 20,000 visits a year. We’ve pioneered concussion diagnosis and testing, through our ImPACT tool. We’ve set care standards for active treatment, concussion management, and return-to-play protocols, which many other concussion programs in the U.S. have adopted.
• Personalized care — We help you manage all aspects of a concussion, based on your symptoms and goals. We're here for you from the point of injury through your return to play or activities of daily life.
• Breadth of services and experts — Our program connects you to doctors in every specialty related to concussion, from neurosurgeons to vestibular therapists. You have access to the entire UPMC network of experts in sports medicine and beyond.
• Concussion research lab — We’ve published groundbreaking concussion research since 2000. We’ve used our research to design advanced concussion care, resulting in excellent outcomes.

Contact The UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program

The UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program offers expert concussion evaluation and treatment at several locations in the Pittsburgh area. We also offer telemedicine options on a case-by-case basis.

Contact the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program online or by calling 412-432-3681 to discuss which option is right for you.

Thousands of patients travel to us for care each year. Here’s what you should know if you’re a traveling patient.

Talk to your doctor about other concussion care options in your area.

Post-doctoral Fellowship in Neuropsychology

The UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program offers a post-doctoral fellowship in neuropsychology focused on assessment and management of concussion. The fellowship, which is based in Pittsburgh, is a two-year, full-time position adhering to Houston Conference guidelines for hourly clinical training and supervision. Upon completion of fellowship, it is expected that fellows will have the necessary skills and knowledge base to pursue board certification in clinical neuropsychology.

Learn more about the fellowship program.