Concussion software for student athletes
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Sports Medicine program is trying to add another tool to the fight against concussions in student athletes.
But there are no wires or electrodes, just a computer screen and a mouse.
“The software program actually challenges the athlete’s brain,” explains Bob Sefcik, Jacksonville Sports Medicine Executive Director.
And hopefully it’s coming soon to a school near you.
The software is an online concussion baseline assessment test. Using flashing words and shifting shapes, it can measure memory, ability to recall, and reaction time.
“An athlete would come and sit in front of a computer terminal for about a 20-25 minute session,” Sefcik said.
The nonprofit coalition hopes to have this software available for every Duval County public school athlete free of charge. The student would sit down for the test at the beginning of the year to get a baseline assessment. Then, if they get injured mid-season they’d take the test again.
This way a doctor will be able to compare the two test scores when they’re determining the athlete’s ability to return to play.
“It arms our physicians with some better tools to make decisions,” Sefcik said.
In Duval County, many private schools are already using the technology.
“It’s one of the tools in our toolbox we say,” said athletic trainer Jim Mackie.
Mackie is an athletic trainer for Trinity Christian Academy. He’s been using the concussion software with his athletes for the past two years.
“It’s helped out quite a bit,” he said.
Sefcik hopes to level the playing field and make the software available to everyone.
“We’d like to eliminate that gap of the haves and have-nots and offer that for the entire community,” he said.
In order to do so, the Jacksonville Sports Medicine program must raise $130,000. Their goal is to have the software available for all high school athletes by January 1.
They are currently looking for business partnerships.