WASHINGTON, Pa. - UPMC Sports Medicine, in partnership with the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation, is bringing its nationally recognized HeadsUP Pittsburgh program to the UPMC Wellness Center at the Wilfred R. Cameron Pavilion in Washington, Pa. this summer, offering free pediatric and Adult ImPACT concussion baseline testing for local youth athletes.
HeadsUP Pittsburgh helps keep young athletes safe by providing baseline testing and education before the start of the sports season. The program is open to athletes participating in all sports and activities, including football, soccer, hockey, cheerleading, dance and more.
Since launching in 2010, HeadsUP Pittsburgh has baseline tested more than 33,000 young people across 39 sports and provided concussion education to nearly 65,000 parents, coaches, referees and teachers. Now in its fifteenth year, the program continues to expand across the region.
"Concussions are a serious concern in youth sports, and having a baseline test on file can make a critical difference in how an athlete is evaluated and treated after an injury," said Brook Ward, president, UPMC Washington. "We're proud to bring this program to our community and give families access to tools that help protect their children."
Understanding Baseline Testing
Concussion baseline testing is conducted by trained health care professionals to assess an athlete's normal brain function while healthy. The test evaluates areas such as concentration, memory, reaction time and symptoms that may be similar to a concussion, including headaches or sleep issues.
HeadsUP Pittsburgh uses ImPACT® (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing) for ages 10+ and Pediatric ImPACT for ages 5 to 9, a computer-based tool developed by UPMC concussion experts. They're the most effective tools available and used worldwide for measuring a person's neurocognitive state before a concussion occurs.
Baseline results serve as a comparison if a concussion occurs in the future. Along with a full clinical evaluation, this information helps guide recovery and determine when it is safe for an athlete to return to play. The test itself does not diagnose or prevent a concussion but provides valuable data for care decisions.
"This partnership allows us to provide families with valuable resources to address concussions in youth sports," said Yvonne Maher, executive director of the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation. "We are proud to work alongside UPMC Sports Medicine to support the health and safety of athletes throughout our region."
How to Participate
Free baseline testing will be offered at the UPMC Wellness Center in Washington from June 1 through July 31 for athletes ages 10 and older. Additional testing locations across the region are available for younger athletes. This year's participants will receive various wellness items, including Pittsburgh Penguins merchandise, courtesy of the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation.
Registration is required, and space may be limited. Families can learn more and sign up by visiting: https://www.upmc.com/headsup.
UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program neuropsychologists advise baseline concussion testing each year for children ages 12 and under and every two years for children ages 13 and older.
