Five Kent County high schools are among 70 across Michigan participating in two pilot concussion testing programs to help schools diagnose and document the head injuries.
The Michigan High School Athletic Association is behind the pilot programs that require the schools to involve at least two sports for each gender each season.The Kent County high schools involved are Grandville, Kelloggsville, East Kentwood, Northview and Grand Rapids Christian.
Related: MHSAA introduces concussion testing pilot programs, insurance
Northview will use the testing for football, soccer and cheer.
“I think anytime we can get more information about a student-athlete, the better off we will be,” said Jerry Klekotka, the district’s athletic director. “This is another piece of information that helps us makes informed decisions on when a student-athlete is ready to return to play.
“Concussions happen in all sports, but through improvements in equipment, MHSAA rule changes/concussion protocols, and OK Conference points of emphasis, I believe (high school) sports are safer than ever.”
The two tests school personnel received training in were the King-Devick Test and the XLNTbrain Sport program. Approximately 10,000 students will be monitored. All of the local schools will use the XLNTbrain Sport program except Northview, which will use King-Devick test.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the King-Devick Test is an objective, physical method of evaluating visual tracking and quick, simultaneous movements of both eyes or saccadic eye movements. It consists of a series of test cards of numbers with the test cards become progressively more difficult to read due to variability of spacing between the numbers. Both errors in reading and speed of reading are included in deriving a score.
The XLNTbrain Sport includes balance and web-based neuro-cognitive tests also used before the start of a season to create a baseline measurement of reaction time, attention, inhibition, impulsivity, memory, information processing efficiency and executive function. The test also assesses mood, anxiety, stress and emotionality.
Bruce Foster, Kelloggsville’s athletic director, said concussions can’t be eliminated but studies can reduce the frequency and how they are handled. He said monitoring football can help blocking and tackling techniques.
“It is nice that everything (concussion protocol) is now uniform,” said Foster. “The sport of football for youth in middle school and high school has never been safer.”
According to MHSAA, the concussion test is administered on the sidelines during evaluations for suspected head injuries.
Jason Heeremam, athletic director for Grand Rapids Christian schools, said they have honest conversations with students about not masking or hiding symptoms for their safety. He said schools have gotten better at identifying students with issues and monitoring them accordingly.
“The pilot is a good thing,” he said.
MHSAA officials say that in addition to becoming the first state association to offer pilot sideline concussion testing, the group will be the first to mandate record-keeping by member schools of all possible concussion events from detection to an athlete’s return to play. The requirement applies to both practices and events, all levels of all sports in grades 7 through 12.
“These pilot programs are intended to not only improve what’s actually happening on the sidelines at practices and contests in these communities that are part of the pilot programs, they’re intended to spread the word of the need for improved concussion detection across every community,” said MHSAA Executive Director John Roberts.
The MHSAA asked schools at the end of spring to volunteer for the pilot programs and then selected participants in order to guarantee a variety of schools based on enrollment and location.
For a full list of schools involved in the test, visit the MHSAA website.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2015/08/5_local_high_schools_involved.html