Inova will provide all 14,000 of Loudoun County Public Schools’ student athletes — including those in non-contact sports — with free baseline concussion tests for the 2023–2024 school year, with the goal of improving concussion management for student athletes.
The Inova ImPACT baseline test is administered on a computer before the sports season begins, in order to record a snapshot of the student’s regular cognitive performance. If the student later sustains a concussion, the student’s post-injury test scores will be compared to the pre-injury screener to show how the injury has impacted the student and will track recovery.
“This initiative will improve concussion care along the entire patient journey, and help improve outcomes in the long run,” said Melissa Womble, the co-director of Inova’s Concussion Program, in a news release. “We frequently observe, and our research supports, that student-athletes with undetected concussions continue to play, delay clinical care, and are prescribed antiquated management recommendations, ultimately experiencing worse recovery outcomes.”
This partnership aims to help improve concussion knowledge, recognition, and pre- and post-concussion care within the school district.
The test takes 25–30 minutes for ages 5–9 and 35–40 minutes for ages 10 and above. It includes prompts such as memorizing then later recalling words, shapes, and patterns in order to test memory and cognitive function.
Inova recommends these tests for all active individuals between ages 5 and 59. Individuals should take the test every year until age 13, then every other year after age 14.
“We are extremely grateful to Inova for their dedication to our student-athletes,” said Derek Farrey, LCPS assistant director of athletics and extracurriculars. “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, to obtain baseline concussion testing before their respective seasons.”
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
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