ImPACT Testing at CNNH

Drs. Gregory Alberts and George Niemann have completed the requisite training to administer and interpret the ImPACT neurocognitive testing sytem. Dr. Mark Mintz is also qualified to interpret results of ImPACT testing. Dr. Greg Alberts will be the primary clinician at CNNH who will interpret ImPACT testing, with Dr. Mark Mintz as Neurological Specialist and Dr. George Niemann as systems and program consultant.

What is ImPACT?

ImPACT stands for Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Test. It is a user-friendly, online computer-based neurocognitive testing program specifically developed to help clinicians evaluate recovery following concussion. ImPACT was founded in May 2002 by Mark Lovell, Ph.D, ABPN, Joseph Maroon, M.D., and Michael Collins, Ph.D. ImPACT team members have dedicated the past 15 years to the scientific study of sports-related concussion and the clinical application of this knowledge throughout professional and amateur sports. The founders are widely acknowledged as world leaders in the field of concussion management and are committed to ongoing development of increasingly advanced concussion management tools. Together they provide concussion management services to some of the leading sports organizations in the world, including:

• 31 NFL Teams
• Ontario/Western Hockey Leagues
• All MLB Teams
• Irish Rugby Major League Soccer
• New Zealand Rugby
• National Hockey League
• South African Rugby
• Major/Minor League Baseball Umpires
• US Lacrosse
• USA Olympic Hockey
• USA Rugby
• USA Hockey
• US Army
• US Navy
• US Air Force Academy
• USA Ski Team
• US Soccer Federation
• Swedish Soccer
• 500+ Clinical Centers
• 1800+ High Schools
• 700+ Colleges and Universities

ImPACT consists of a battery of tests that can be easily administered in about thirty minutes. The test provides an objective measurement of memory, reaction time, attention span, and other factors to help a clinician diagnose a concussion and decide when the patient has recovered sufficiently to resume regular activities or return to playing sports. Such important decisions reduce the chance of follow-up concussions or second-impact syndrome which, can have serious consequences.

Ideally, ImPACT should be administered in the pre-season to obtain a baseline record and then post-injury to track the course of recovery of any concussion.

Who administers ImPACT testing?

At CNNH, the ImPACT baseline test is administered under the supervision of a clinician. When a concussion is suspected, a follow-up or “post-injury” test is administered to see if the results have changed from the baseline to help diagnose and manage the concussion. Additional follow-up tests may be administered over several days or weeks to assist the clinician with return to play or other clinical decisions.

Why ImPACT?

Traditional neurological and radiologic procedures, such as CT, MRI, and EEG, although helpful in identifying more serious concerns (e.g. skull fracture, hematoma, contusion), are not useful in identifying the effects of concussion. Such tests are typically unremarkable or normal, even in athletes sustaining a severe concussion. The reason for this is that concussion is primarily a metabolic rather than a structural injury.

To Make An Appointment: Call 856.346.0005

The links below provide more information and resources on brain injury and concussion:

• Brain Injury Association of NJ
• Lash and Associates Publishing/Training
• Brain Injury Association of America
• National Association for Brain Injury Professionals