KRHC provides free baseline testing for local athletes

A few bumps and bruises are an expected part of participating in sports, but head injuries can develop into serious issues if not treated properly.  Kossuth Regional Health Center Physical Therapy is providing free baseline testing to local high school athletes this fall to help assess students after a concussion-related injury.

KRHC physical therapists Jake Jacobusse and Shane Meschke have a computer-based research tool that evaluates various aspects of brain functions, including verbal and visual memory, attention span, brain processing speed, reaction time and post-concussive symptoms.

“This type of testing, when it’s done before a student athlete experiences a serious injury, can help with concussion management and safer return-to-play,” Jacobusse said.  “If a student does end up with a concussion at some point during the season, this baseline data will allow us to compare that athlete’s major brain functions and response times to what it was before the injury happened.  This is important information when determining whether it’s safe for that student to resume playing or even practicing.”

More than 1,000 high school athletic teams across the nation as well as several NFL teams, hockey leagues, soccer teams and the US Military and Air Force Academies utilize this research tool, which is called ImPACT.

“Concussions are a pretty common injury in contact sports, even at the high school level, but they are tough to diagnose and treat.  The information gathered in this baseline testing provides valuable information that can be used for the safety of the athlete,” Jacobusse said.

Algona High School, Bishop Garrigan High School and Corwith-Wesley-LuVerne have all been able to take advantage of this free service from KRHC Physical Therapy and other schools are being contacted.  For more information or to coordinate a testing session for a high school athletic team, contact KRHC Physical Therapy at 515-295-4672.