ImPACT is used by professional sports teams, including Major Leaguer Baseball and the National Football League, and colleges and universities, and high schools nationwide.

ImPACT is suitable for athletes ages 12 and older. It is a 20-minute battery of neurocognitive evaluations, including measures of verbal and visual memory, attention span, brain processing speed, and reaction time. 

“To participate, we ask that athletes first complete a baseline ImPACT test, offered free of charge,” said Donald Tomaszewski, Director of The Valley Hospital Sports Institute. “If an athlete subsequently experiences a concussion, he or she is re-tested and the baseline data is compared to the post-concussion data to monitor recovery and determine when it is safe for the player to return to active sports.”

The next dates for ImPACT baseline testing are Thursday, August 26, and Tuesday, August 31, at 5 and 6:30 PM.  Testing will be conducted in the computer classroom located on the 3^rd floor of Valley’s Kraft Center, located at 15 Essex Road in Paramus.

To register for a baseline test or for more information about ImPACT Concussion Management, please call the Sports Institute at 201-447-8133.

A concussion is a brain injury.  Concussions are most commonly caused by a bump or blow to the head, but, can also be caused by a sudden deceleration or acceleration of the head.  In either scenario, the brain, suspended inside the skull and surrounded by fluid, continues to travel with momentum until it “bangs” up against the skull – causing a brain bruising injury – or concussion.  What may seem to be a mild bump or blow to the head can be serious.

An athlete who suffers a concussion can be at risk for a condition known as Second Impact Syndrome if he or she returns to sports before full recovery.  Second impact syndrome is a life-threatening condition in which a second concussion occurs before a first concussion has properly healed, causing rapid and severe brain swelling. Second impact syndrome can result from even a very mild concussion that occurs days or weeks after the initial concussion.

“Second Impact Syndrome can be prevented,” Tomaszewski said.  “Don’t allow an athlete to return to sports after a concussion until their symptoms have completely resolved and they have been cleared by a competent medical professional.”

Parents should be aware that signs and symptoms of a concussion can show up right after the injury or may not appear or be noticed until days or weeks after the injury.  If your child reports any symptoms of concussion, or if you notice the symptoms yourself, seek medical attention right away.  Common symptoms include: headache, dizziness, feeling foggy, nausea, fatigue and confusion.  Common signs include memory loss, a loss of balance and coordination, and changes in personality.  Concussion severity varies widely, and the number of signs and symptoms vary also – serious injuries may show few symptoms.

Although less common, bleeding in the brain can occur with some head injuries.  Loss of consciousness, mental status deterioration and worsening symptoms raise the concern for a bleeding injury.  An athlete does not need to lose consciousness (black out) to suffer a concussion.  In fact, less then 10 percent of concussed athletes lose consciousness