A recent news release from the Nashville, Tenn-based Vanderbilt Sports Concussion Center announces that the organization is now offering pre-concussion baseline testing to all community recreational athletes. The facilitation of testing comes as a proactive response to the high-impact season sports that will begin in the fall.

The testing primarily targets, “anyone in recreational sports, but especially contact sports like football, hockey, rugby, and soccer, and it is important to have the test done before there is an injury,” says Andrew Gregory, MD, associate professor of orthopedic surgery and rehabilitation. The release notes that testing will include the computerized Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) test. Gregory adds that the test allows physicians to compare the patient’s brain function on an individual basis, rather than to an average of individuals nationwide. Researchers note that one the ways in which the test accomplishes this is by gathering data that highlights the patient’s characteristics, concussion history, and neurological profile.

According to the release, in the past the testing was only offered to high school, college, and professional athletes on teams that were covered by Vanderbilt Sports Medicine. The testing is now available to any adults and adolescents aged 12 years old and older. Three clinic locations will be offering the testing, Vanderbilt reports. These clinics include the Vanderbilt Orthopaedic Institute on Vanderbilt’s main campus, the Vanderbilt Bone and Joint Clinic in Franklin, and Vanderbilt Orthopaedics at Mt. Juliet.

For more information, visit http://www.vanderbilthealth.com/orthopaedics/35395

Source: Vanderbilt Sports Concussion Center