With a new school year around the corner, it’s important to take the necessary steps to prepare your child for their extracurriculars. If your student is looking to try out for a sports team or is continuing to play, it’s a good idea for them to get a brain scan in case a concussion or other related injuries occur while on the field. Why? As a top concussion clinic in Denver, we’re here to provide some answers.
What is Pre-Participation Sports Testing?
Pre-participation sports testing, or baseline testing, is a pre-season exam conducted by a trained healthcare professional. Baseline tests are used to assess an athlete’s brain function, as well as the presence of any preexisting concussion symptoms. Results from baseline tests can be used and compared to a similar exam conducted by a healthcare professional during the season if an athlete has a suspected concussion.
Pre-participation tests are needed before your child can begin to compete. Setting the appointment at least six weeks before the start of the sports season allows time to treat any issues, rehabilitate an existing injury, or return for a follow-up exam.
Baseline testing should be repeated annually to establish a valid test result for comparison.
Why Are Sports Physicals Necessary?
Playing any sport can put your child at risk for injury. It is estimated that as many as 3.8 million concussions occur in the USA per year during competitive sports and recreational activities. Children and teens make up approximately 70% of all sports and recreation-related concussions seen in the emergency room (BrainLine.org).
A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury—or TBI—caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. This sudden movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, creating chemical changes in the brain and sometimes stretching and damaging brain cells.
If you have children who participate in sports, it’s important to make their safety a priority. That’s where baseline testing comes into play. Those assessments will help:
- Evaluate your student athlete’s general health and current fitness level
- Screen for existing illnesses and injuries, including life-threatening conditions
- Help detect conditions or factors that could increase your athlete’s risk of illness or injury
- Provide pre-injury maps of your child’s brain to aid in the recovery process
At McWhorter CNR, a concussion specialist in Denver will be able to use pre-injury tests to aid in the proper recovery of your child if they experience a blow to the head mid-season.
Book Your Consultation With our Concussion Clinic in Denver at McWhorter CNR
Don’t let a concussion obstruct your child’s performance on the field and at school. At McWhorter CNR, we have state-of-the-art technology and training to manage sports-related concussions.
With your custom care plan, we will implement several techniques and innovative wellness therapies to help improve your child’s health and well-being. We will even give you the tools, knowledge, and resources to set your child up for a pain-free future after you leave our office.
Schedule your appointment with our concussion clinic in Denver at McWhorter CNR today to get specialized treatment services.