About us

Mission

Our mission is to promote awareness and proper management of sports related concussions.

History

In 2008, the Indiana Sports Concussion Network (ISCN) was formed to reduce the number of concussions that went undetected, untreated, or improperly handled in athletes.

The network is composed of members from a variety of disciplines at each level of contact with the athlete. Those who make up the front line of concussion recognition and evaluation include certified athletic trainers, athletic directors, school nurses, coaches, and parents. These people are vital to identifying an athlete who may be concussed, as well as monitoring the athlete and seeking emergency care if needed. Personnel in this group can also administer baseline tests to athletes. The next group to assist with concussion management is made up of physicians, psychologists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, and neuropsychologists.

Thanks to a grant from Indiana University Health Orthopedics, ISCN is able to donate baseline ImPACT tests to Indiana high school athletes. There is also an opportunity for individuals and groups to obtain testing. Please contact us to discuss the options for having a baseline ImPACT test performed.

Goal

Our goal is to promote concussion awareness and proper management to ensure that athletes fully recover prior to returning to activity. Long term effects and repeat concussions may be more likely for concussed athletes who return to participation too soon or whose treatment has not been properly managed.

We strive to achieve our goal by educating the above personnel to recognize the signs and symptoms of a concussion, as well as how to manage them at their level of experience and expertise.

Tools

The clinicians working with the ISCN have been trained to administer, read, and interpret the ImPACT post-injury tests. Baseline tests are compared to post-injury tests to assess the athletes' individual neurocognitive function after a suspected concussion.

When an athlete is asymptomatic and ImPACT test results are back to baseline, a return to play plan is created to ensure proper recovery and full healing of the brain. This protocol will help reduce the number of athletes that return to the playing field prior to complete healing of their injury, which should result in a decreased incidence of the Post-concussion and Second Impact Syndromes.

ImPACT is only one tool used along with the signs and symptoms and neurological examination by the physician to assess the athlete after a concussion is sustained. Clinicians must also use their clinical judgement and experience and other testing may be required to determine proper function of the brain prior to clearance for full participation.

Foundation

The ISCN is an initiative of the Methodist Sports Medicine Research and Education Foundation which is a separately incorporated not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization. The mission is to lead advances in orthopedic care and sports medicine through research and education to help people of all ages maintain an active lifestyle.