New Program Helps Evaluate High School Athletes for Concussions

It may seem like school just let out, especially if you are a child, but school will be back in session before you know it.  However, many schools across Montana are already gearing up for the fall with sports practices.

via GIPHY

There is a new program that aims to help those student athletes not just to compete at their best, but to also do it safely.  Concussions in sports shouldn't be taken lightly.  Montana schools are stepping up to ensure that those athletes aren't participating in events if problems occur.

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Not Like it was "Back in the Day" on the Gridiron of Small Town Montana

Back in the early 80's (yes, the late 1900's if you will) at Geyser High School, our helmets were remnants of a time gone by.  Snap in pads that were cracked and often missing; or if you were lucky and got a fancy newer one, it had plastic pods inside.  Very cool.  Until they lost the ability to cushion and were just shards of collapsed plastic poking your head everywhere.  Ahh, good times indeed.

Photo by Library of Congress on Unsplash

Ok, ok.  They weren't quite as bad as that photo, but it seemed like it most games.  But even with today's technology, concussions are still a serious concern in our schools and for professional athletes alike.

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So, when I saw that even the smallest of towns like Geyser were testing athletes for concussions before even stepping out on the field, it made me realize just how lucky most of us were back then.  And it isn't just football players that are being tested; volleyball and basketball are also included.

New SWAY Program Can Evaluate High School Athletes in Real Time Immediately

For me, the best part of the new Sway program is the real-time testing ability using the athletes baseline score.  Players are first tested for 20 minutes on a flat surface either in person or online.  Once completed, coaches and medical personnel can evaluate current scores to ensure the player is in the clear.

a group of football players

Those on-field or on-court tests can take as little as 5 minutes to complete.  The mobile app also allows for multiple tests per athlete and can also be compared to a national baseline average based on age and sex.  To learn more about Sway, click here.