Inova will present 14,000 Loudoun County Public Schools highschool athletes with a free baseline concussion take a look at for the 2023-2024 faculty 12 months, the well being system and college system stated Thursday.

The assessments will probably be administered earlier than sports actions start. Baseline assessments collect information on a taker’s mind functioning, and act as a snapshot of the organ’s typical exercise previous to a concussion. Knowing the baseline may also help athletes and coaches decide when a participant is cleared to return to actions.

“This initiative will improve concussion care along the entire patient journey, and help improve outcomes in the long run. … student-athletes with undetected concussions who continue to play, delay clinical care, and are prescribed antiquated management recommendations, ultimately experiencing worse recovery outcomes,” Inova Concussion Program Co-Director Melissa Womble stated in a press release.

The assessments are finished on the pc and could be accomplished in 20 or half-hour at dwelling or at college. In specific, the take a look at measures mind features affected by concussions.

“It looks at verbal memory, visual memory, processing speed and reaction time. Those are the areas of cognitive functioning that can be affected, post-concussion. What we see sometimes is the cognitive piece can be the last to fully resolve with concussion,” Ms. Womble instructed WTOP-FM.

In addition to contact sports identified for inflicting concussions similar to soccer, soccer and baseball, college students in non-contact sports like cross nation may also be coated.

“We are extremely grateful to Inova for their dedication to our student-athletes. Their expertise will help every high school athlete in the LCPS system, including, for the first time, non-contact athletes in sports who are also susceptible to concussions,” LCPS Assistant Director of Athletics and Extracurriculars Derek Farrey stated in a press release.

Content Source: www.washingtontimes.com