With pediatric concussions on the rise nationally, the Marshall Sports Medicine Institute is launching a new initiative to offer free baseline concussion testing for children.

This proactive approach to concussion management establishes baseline data in healthy patients using ImPACT Pediatric, the first and only FDA-approved concussion assessment aid for ages 5-11.

With this new pediatric concussion test, we can now evaluate neurocognitive function after sustaining a concussion and compare their function to baseline levels, said Tom Belmaggio, MS, ATC, CSCS, coordinator of the Marshall Sports Medicine Institute. This allows our physicians to provide safer return-to-play decisions for younger athletes who sustain a concussion.

According to a study by researchers from the University of Washington, Seattle Childrens Research Institute and the University of Colorado, nearly 2 million children suffer sports-related concussions each year.

As more children under the age of 12 participate in recreational physical activity, baseline testing in children is increasingly essential to overall concussion management, said Andy Gilliland, M.D., a primary care sports medicine physician with Marshall Orthopedics and an assistant professor of orthopedics at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine. This provides us greater insight into cognitive changes and develop a personalized treatment plan accordingly.

Free pediatric baseline concussion testing is available by appointment at the Marshall Sports Medicine Institute, located at 2211 Third Ave. in Huntington by calling 304-691-1880 and at Marshall Health-Teays Valley, located at 300 Corporate Center Dr. in Scott Depot by calling 304-691-6800.

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Marshall Sports Medicine Offers Concussion Testing for Children - The Exponent Telegram (press release) (registration)