Doctor and Patient

In central Pennsylvania, UPMC offers comprehensive services to help people of all ages and skill levels recover from and prevent sports-related injuries. Athletes may be prone to a variety of injuries or conditions including fractures, dislocations, sprains and strains, tendonitis, overtraining injuries, and degenerative diseases.

The multidisciplinary orthopaedic team at UPMC includes primary care sports medicine doctors, neuropsychologists, physical therapists, orthopaedic surgeons, podiatrists, and athletic trainers. Together, they treat a wide variety of sports-related injuries and conditions including:

  • Acute strains or sprains
  • Chronic injuries
  • Concussions
  • Contusions
  • Fractures
  • Ligament tears
  • Overuse injuries
  • Tendonitis

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ImPACT®: Neurocognitive Testing

Concussion is one of the most common sports and recreational injuries, with 1.8 to 3.6 million concussions reported annually in the United States alone. If a concussion is suspected, it is important to seek immediate medical treatment. Experts will evaluate your head injury by reviewing your medical history and doing a thorough exam of your symptoms.

One tool to help diagnose and manage a concussion is ImPACT neurocognitive testing. “ImPACT testing is an effective tool to compare the data from an athlete’s “normal” state to his or her post-injury state. The test also serves as a guideline to determine the plan of care and return to the sport or activity,” says Kush Patel, MD, primary care sports medicine doctor at PinnacleHealth Bone and Joint Center.

Neurocognitive testing alone does not diagnose a concussion — it provides a measurement of cognitive abilities such as verbal and visual memory, information processing speed, and reaction time. Test results, in combination with other aspects of the clinical examination support, are used to determine a diagnosis of concussion.

ImPACT baseline testing is for anyone 12 years and older. In central Pennsylvania, UPMC offers ImPACT clinics throughout the year, as well as for local sports teams and organizations.

For information about locations for ImPACT testing or to schedule an appointment, contact PinnacleHealth Bone and Joint Center (Medical Office Building, Suite 200, 2005 Technology Parkway, Mechanicsburg) at 717-791-2620.

About UPMC

Headquartered in Pittsburgh, UPMC is a world-renowned health care provider and insurer. We operate 40 hospitals and 800 doctors’ offices and outpatient centers, with locations throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, West Virginia, and internationally. We employ 4,900 physicians, and we are leaders in clinical care, groundbreaking research, and treatment breakthroughs. U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside as one of the nation’s best hospitals in many specialties and ranks UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh on its Honor Roll of America’s Best Children’s Hospitals. We are dedicated to providing Life Changing Medicine to our communities.

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