Concussions and repetitive brain injuries are relatively new topics in the public realm, primarily brought to light after a series of high-profile cases in the media connected to professional football players. For parents and guardians with school-age children, when they start playing impact sports, the reality of a concussion might become more of a concern. Diagnosing a concussion is based on symptoms –a medical provider can’t take a simple look at the brain and immediately see damage, for example. It’s very different from looking at someone with an obvious broken bone. Concussions pose
many challenges for medical providers to diagnose accurately. But there is testing, and we will outline what that is and why it’s important to have a healthy baseline to compare results with after an injury.
This testing can apply to middle or high school athletes, but for the sake of simplicity, we will focus on high school-age athletes in this article. This same information can apply to college or adult athletes, who ideally have done some baseline testing prior to participating in adult contact sports or have the unfortunate experience of an injury resulting in head trauma.
As we start into the summer, one more item on the plate of endless parental ‘to-dos’ is starting the baseline concussion testing prior to your high school student starting a sport in the upcoming year. Without a baseline concussion test done prior to a head injury, the measures to determine a concussion are much more grey.
Free high school student physicals will be provided by Family Health West on July 22, 2025, and a code for an online test that can capture a baseline for future concussion comparison can be provided during the sports physical. Should you miss that opportunity and still want to complete the baseline testing, a code and online testing information can also be provided by contacting FHW Rehabilitative Medicine Clinic, and under consultation with Dr. Joey Salganik.
Baseline concussion testing for athletes is important for understanding brain function before injuries occur and provides a reference point for comparing post-injury results. So, what does a baseline concussion test consist of? Typically, the tests involve cognitive assessments, balance evaluations, and reaction time or coordination tests. The goal is to identify a student-athlete’s normal cognitive and physical performance to aid in concussion diagnosis and recovery post-injury.
Dr. Salganik sat down recently to have a conversation about concussions in student athletes. It’s worth noting that this Texas native grew up playing football. He’s lived Friday Night Lights. Dr. Salganik understands the values and rewards for student athletes in playing sports.
A common baseline test athletic trainers and sports medicine physicians use is called ImPACT – Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing. ImPACT is considered the gold standard and used by the NCAA and the NFL. ImPACT is a computerized neurocognitive test that helps assess brain function and can be used to compare baseline performance with post-injury performance. The ImPACT testing consists of a 20-30 minute computer test when you are not suffering any symptoms or are at baseline, allowing for future comparison, if needed.
Should a concussion be suspected, the athlete can be administered the ImPACT test (again) and evaluated for deficits, providing a clearer picture of the brain injury and allowing the medical provider to assign more time for recovery before returning to academics and playing sports.
If you or your student athlete has experienced a concussion or head injury, Dr. Salganik is a board certified Physiatrist specializing in diagnosing and treating conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system, nervous system, and other areas impacting function, with a focus on improving a patient’s ability to move, work, and live independently. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Salganik through the FHW Rehabilitative Medicine Clinic, call the clinic directly. Should your health insurance require a referral, the clinic staff can assist you directly.
To consult with Dr. Salganik about baseline ImPACT testing for your student athlete before the 2025-26 school year, call the FHW Rehabilitative Medicine Clinic at (970) 858-2585 or visit their website at https://fhw.org/services/rehabilitative-medicine/.
