New app to evaluate sports concussion

The American Academy of Neurology (AAN), the world's largest association of neurologists who treat brain injuries such as concussion, has launched a new app called "Concussion QuickCheck", to help coaches, athletic trainers, parents and athletes quickly evaluate if someone may have a concussion and needs to see a licensed health care provider, such as a neurologist, who is specialized in concussion.

The app, which is available for iPad, IOS (Apple), Android, and mobile, was developed in partnership with the Academy's updated guideline for diagnosing and evaluating sports concussion. The announcement of the new app was made at the Academy's Annual Meeting in San Diego today in conjunction with the release of the updated sports concussion guideline.

Key information and tools in the "Concussion Quick Check" app include:

oCommon signs of concussion
oSymptoms of concussion
oThings the athlete may tell you
oWhat to do if an athlete has a head injury during a game
oWhat to do if it appears the athlete has a concussion
oWhen an athlete should return to the game
oHelp finding a neurologist near you (GPS capability)
oHelp finding state laws on concussion
oMore about the Academy's new guideline for diagnosing, treating and managing sports concussion

"The American Academy of Neurology, the world's largest association of neurologists, is the trusted authority in managing sports concussion," said Christopher C. Giza, MD, with the David Geffen School of Medicine and Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA and a member of the American Academy of Neurology, who helped develop the content for the Concussion Quick Check app. "We hope this easy-to-access tool will help coaches, athletic trainers, parents and athletes alike to quickly determine if an athlete shows signs of concussion and needs to see a licensed health care professional trained in managing concussion, such as a neurologist. It's a perfect tool to have on your iPad or smart phone when coaching or watching a game from the sidelines."