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Women's Night Out Special Thanks to: The Juneau County Health Department ,City of Mauston Channel 6, Star Times, Mauston High School & Castle Rock Graphix
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Mile Bluff’s athletic trainers have a positive ImPACT on high school athletes by Katie Mead When trying to identify the most exciting part of watching a sporting event, a variety of answers might be found: The athleticism and the plays, the feeling of sweet victory and agony of defeat, the cheerleaders, or…the injuries??? The licensed athletic trainers at Mile Bluff Medical Center are gearing up for another year of high school sports and injury prevention. This year, the department is utilizing a new tool in the diagnosis and treatment of one of athletes’ biggest threats: concussions. A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury that is caused by a bump, blow or jolt to either the head or the body. It causes the brain to move rapidly inside the skull, and changes how the brain normally functions. It is estimated that 1.6 to 3.8 million sports and recreation-related concussions occur each year in the United States. Concussions can have serious and long-term effects on the brain. In some cases, residual effects of a concussion can affect a person’s attention span, working memory, non-verbal problem solving and reaction time. That is why it is crucial for concussions to be evaluated and treated by trained professionals. Starting this fall in the Hillsboro, Mauston, Necedah, New Lisbon, Weston, Wisconsin Dells and Wonewoc-Center school districts, high school athletes will be tested with ImPACT – Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing – prior to participating in sports. ImPACT is a computerized concussion evaluation system that is now being used across high school, collegiate and professional levels of sports. The initial test takes 20 minutes and provides baseline information, measuring verbal and visual memory, processing speed, attention span, non-verbal problem solving and reaction time. If a concussion occurs, testing is again performed and the results of both tests then are compared to make a proper assessment. It is important to manage concussions on an individualized basis, and with ImPACT, Mile Bluff’s athletic trainers and medical staff members – who are specially trained to interpret test results – will be able to objectively evaluate a concussed athlete’s post-injury condition. The results help the practitioners, like Dr. Kim Sabey, Dr. Robert Buss, and Randy Brandt, PA-C, determine when a player can safely progress into physical activity, and ultimately return to the game. ImPACT also aids in minimizing the cumulative effects of concussions, which can influence an athlete’s performance on the field and in the classroom. With ImPACT, concussions do not have to end an athlete’s career; returning safely to the game IS a reality. Mile Bluff Medical Center’s licensed athletic training staff is ready to help high school athletes stay on the field by utilizing the latest assessment tools such as ImPACT. For more information on Mile Bluff’s athletic training services, call 608-847-1422. |
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Mile Bluff Medical Center/ 1050 Division St./ Mauston, WI 53948 / 608 847 6161 Mile Bluff Medical Center, 1050 Division Street, Mauston, WI 53948 608 847 6161 or Toll free in WI at 800 252 4377 © 2008 Mile Bluff Medical Center |
