Just last month, a paper in the Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine gave further evidence of the importance of concussion baseline testing. Authors Philip Schatz and Jennifer Chikar of St. Joseph’s University Department of Psychology in Philadelphia looked at 231 student athletes who had post-concussion assessments using Sway Medical System technology within three days post-injury. Those subjects whose post-concussion baseline screenings were compared to their individual baseline assessments were consistently classified with concussions at a greater percentage than those whose post-injury assessments were compared to normative data (a de-identified database of nearly 11,000 Sway assessments of similar athletes). Being able to use an athlete’s own baseline brain “road map” for comparison with a post-injury screening helped identify a higher proportion of concussed athletes, which means more athletes were able to begin concussion therapies to help with symptoms and return to play safely.
Baseline Testing Provides Critical Data Before a Concussion or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Today’s brain monitoring and testing technologies allow us to create a diagnostic benchmark, also known as a baseline reading, before any injury occurs. A personalized baseline shows how a person’s cognitive and physical performance are normally. For athletes and others at higher risk for concussions, this unique “road map” of their healthy brain can be kept on file, and it can give physicians and medical providers an excellent reference point in the event of a concussion post-injury. Baselines can provide vital information when diagnosing a traumatic brain injury (TBI), such as a concussion, as well as during a patient’s recovery. Better treatment programs can be created, and a clearer picture of when it may be time to return to play, work, driving or other daily life functions can be seen.
“When an accident, such as a fall at work or a sports collision occurs, having a record of a person’s baseline ‘normal’ brain to compare to their post-injury score helps detect differences with increased accuracy,” says Vincent Schaller, M.D., DABFM, CIC, medical director and founder of Mid-Atlantic Concussion Alliance. “If the scores show a deficit difference, concussion specialists can use the results to create a plan and therapies to treat the concussion or injury specialized to that patient’s specific needs.”
MAC Alliance Baseline Testing Programs With Sway Balance System
Sway Balance System is an FDA-cleared Class II technology that works via an app on your cell phone or tablet. The test is done by resting the phone or tablet against your chest and performing a series of specific balancing exercises. The built–in accelerometer can measure postural stability throughout the intervals of the test. Research studies back Sway’s accuracy and reliability, and balance baseline data can be used later to help diagnose and monitor a concussion or other TBI. The Sway Balance testing tool works well with kids and adults, and it can be done anywhere. The test takes approximately two to five minutes and provides reliable brain health baseline data, and can accurately monitor the recovery process of a diagnosed concussion.
MAC Alliance also provides ImPACT and Creyos Health baseline testing, for those who cannot perform the balance test.
Concussion Baseline Screenings Are Not Just for Athletes
While football and soccer teams gear up for their fall seasons, we see an uptick in requests for baseline testing sessions. But in reality, the benefits of concussion baseline testing go beyond sports, all year round. The CDC reports that accidental falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries. In fact, falls leading to the emergency room visits are disproportionately high among children and older adults, not elite athletes. The other leading causes of TBIs are firearms and motor vehicle accidents. MAC Alliance recommends baseline testing for:
- Student athletes
- Residents at assisted living or nursing care facilities
- Adult athletes
- Employees in workplaces where physical activity is high (i.e., constructions workers, package delivery drivers, distribution center employees, police officers and firefighters)
How Do I Get Baseline Testing for My Organization?
Interested in how you can bring concussion baseline testing to your school, sports club or law-enforcement organization? MAC Alliance offers free Sway baseline screenings to schools, athletic clubs, military service members and first responders in the Mid-Atlantic region. Contact our baseline testing coordinator today to find about our programs.
