Schutt Sports and CogState Ltd., who creates computer-based tests measuring cognitive state, have announced that they will provide at no charge to 20,000 U.S. high schools and colleges an easy-to-use computer-based test that records a players cognitive speed and accuracy before and after an injury.
With 70,000 concussions estimated to occur in a single high school football season, physicians must make 70,000 difficult decisions on when it is safe for a player to return to the game.
“Schutt Sports and CogState are giving physicians who care for student-athletes no excuse for sending them back on the playing field without the benefit of neuropsychological testing,” said University of Notre Dame Team Physician Dr. James Moriarity.
Concussion Sentinel creates a benchmark profile of an athletes cognitive state before injury. Following an injury the test is retaken, allowing the physician to know when the athletes cognition has returned to pre-injury levels. Severe long-term consequences of concussion can occur from returning to play before the brain is fully recovered.
The new technology has undergone rigorous scientific validation. More than 90 athletic organizations in 10 different countries use the software, including the U.K. Olympic boxing team, the South Africa Rugby Football Union, and the University of Notre Dame athletic department.
“Concussion Sentinel allows any physician to accurately determine when a concussed athletes cognitive state has returned to conditions normal for that individual,” said Notre Dames Dr. Moriarity, who first began using CogState software four years ago for the universitys football team and has expanded its usage to include mens and womens soccer teams, ice hockey and the schools boxing club.
