Athletes Should Consider PreSeason Cognitive Testing

CHARLESTON, S.C. - March 5, 2015 - PRLog -- Spring sports practices like baseball, soccer and lacrosse  have begun.    One local physician advises athletes to stop by the examining room before hitting the field.   March is Brain Injury Awareness Month, and according to the CDC, as many as 3.8 million sports and recreation related concussions are estimated to occur in the United States every year.   Brain Injury symptoms range from confusion, headache and blurred vision to vomiting and loss of consciousness.

  The problem with brain injuries, like concussions, is that they are difficult to diagnose. Because of this, Dr. Bright McConnell of Charleston Sports Medicine advises athletes to be proactive and have a pre season baseline test before the games begin.  He states, “Go into the season prepared.  This will help in the long run.”  Charleston Sports Medicine provides baseline testing with the CNS Vital Signs Program.   Athletes are given neurocognitive index testing while the physician gains insight into an athlete’s brain health status.  Through the testing, information on key cognitive measures, such as memory, reaction time, and executive function are examined.  If an injury occurs, this information will be beneficial with evaluation and help physicians determine an athlete's readiness to return to play.

  CNS testing take only thirty minutes and is covered by insurance. Charleston Sports Medicine offers this test alone or as part of an age management profile.

For more information, log onto www.charlestonsportsmed.com.