Marsh 1

Bradley Marsh
Harrell
English IV Honors
November 12, 2014
Diagnosing and Treating Concussions
When an athlete is hit in the head, especially when playing sports such as football or
hockey, he is usually tested in order to make sure he doesnt have a concussion. Athletic trainers
are the ones certified to give this test. It is sometimes difficult to determine whether an athlete
has concussion or not. This is why athletic trainers have started to use new technology to help
diagnose brain injuries. Concussions are diagnosed through special computer tests and can be
treated through new neurological testing.
Within a couple of days of the initial symptoms an athlete is required to take a specialized
computer test called an IMPACT test. This test is used to determine if an athlete has a
concussion and how serious that concussion might be. It does this by comparing the results to a
baseline the athlete took previously. Athletic trainers use the information gathered from the test
to determine how they are going to treat this concussion. IMPACT testing is also helpful in
determining how long to keep the athlete out of play. The goal is to provide the best state-ofthe-art concussion testing (IMPACT Testing).
With concussions occurring more frequently, there has been new technology has been
dedicated to diagnosing concussions. When a person is believed to have brain trauma, it is
important to diagnose and begin treatment as quickly as possible. Before things such as IMPACT
testing doctors didnt know what to do with their patients. I remember seeing patients in the

Marsh 2

emergency department that weren't quite right, but we didn't know what to do with them
(Eisenstadter). Doctors were forced to send these patients home. Now, with the new
technological advances, doctors are able to diagnose and treat patients that have concussions or
concussion like symptoms. There is also some continuity with the treatment of this type of brain
injury where before every doctor did something different. Finally, in 2010, everyone has their
hands around one standard of care (Eisenstadter).
There are now some new, more experimental ways of treating concussions. When
professional hockey player Sidney Crosby suffered a concussion he was out for much longer
than expected. Some people began to worry about his career. Crosby was offered the opportunity
to try an experimental form of treatment. He was strapped into a special gyroscope and spun in
every direction imaginable. This supplemented his ongoing treatment, and when he returned he
was better than ever (Gulli, 62). This type of treatment is extremely experimental, but it is a
necessary advancement in understanding and treating sports related brain injuries.
Concussions are a very serious injury and it is important to diagnose and treat them as
soon as possible. New programs such as IMPACT testing has been very helpful in doing this.
Athletic trainers use the best technology available to treat this complex injury. Technology has
made this possible and more readily available. The IMPACT test is designed to allow the athlete
to return to play as quickly as possible. The athletic trainers do not want to see the athletes out of
their sport. Anytime a player can return to play and perform better than they did before is proof
that the new tests work.

Marsh 3

Eisenstadter, Dave. "HITTING INJURIES HEAD-ON: Concussion program aims to help

diagnose, treat sports-related brain trauma, prevent more." Keene Sentinel, The (NH) 18
Aug. 2010: Newspaper Source Plus. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.
Gulli, Cathy. "Rebuilding Crosby's Brain." Maclean's 124.44 (2011): 62. MAS Ultra - School
Edition. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.
"IMPACT Testing offered through Holzer sports medicine." Point Pleasant Register (WV) 15
June 2013: Newspaper Source Plus. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.

Marsh 4

Bradley Marsh
Harrell
English IV Honors
November 11, 2014
Research Question: How do athletic trainers diagnose and treat concussions?
Working Thesis Statement: Concussions are diagnosed using special computer testing and
treated through specific neurological procedures.
Refined Thesis Statement: Concussions are diagnosed through special computer tests and can
be treated through new neurological testing.
Annotated Bibliography
Eisenstadter, Dave. "HITTING INJURIES HEAD-ON: Concussion program aims to help
diagnose, treat sports-related brain trauma, prevent more." Keene Sentinel, The (NH) 18
Aug. 2010: Newspaper Source Plus. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.
New programs are designed to help diagnose sports related brain trauma. When an athlete
is believed to have brain trauma, it is important to diagnose a concussion as soon as possible.
Once diagnosed there must be an established treatment method. Even though every concussion is
different, there needs to be some continuity in the treatment of concussions. Certain national
standards help keep treatment nearly the same across the board. There is no way to cure a
concussion, so there must be some sort of standards in order to determine when a player should
be allowed to return to play. Scientists are constantly trying to find new ways of treating and
preventing concussions.
Gulli, Cathy. "Rebuilding Crosby's Brain." Maclean's 124.44 (2011): 62. MAS Ultra - School
Edition. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.

Marsh 5

Sidney Crosby suffered a concussion during the Winter Classic last year. It was taking
especially long for him to return. Doctors decided they would put him in a new program to speed
up the healing process. They put Crosby in a gyroscope and twisted and turned him every way
possible. They then turned him upside down and did the same thing. They then looked at his
brain and determined what exactly was wrong. He had suffered two blows to the head and had a
pretty serious concussion. Crosby ran through several tests and was better than before once he
finally returned.
"IMPACT Testing offered through Holzer sports medicine." Point Pleasant Register (WV) 15
June 2013: Newspaper Source Plus. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.
IMPACT testing is a new way of testing for concussions. It requires the athlete to take a
baseline, then when he is believed to have any brain trauma he retakes the test. It is designed to
test for certain criteria. The test also helps athletic trainers determine when a player should be
able to return to play. IMPACT tests are widely accepted and have been scientifically validated.
The test is designed to individualize the treatment process. All treatment is based on the baseline
test of each individual person. Brain injuries are very hard to generalize, so this test uses the
individuals own baseline test in order to determine the extent of brain damage and when the
player should be allowed to return to play.