Dr. Stuart Greenspan

Awareness of the dangers of concussion in sport and the importance of dealing with it properly has increased in recent years. Immediate removal of anyone with a head-related injury from their respective activity is essential in protecting them against further potential injury. New regulations are putting return-to-play decision-making squarely in the lap of the medical doctor without necessarily providing them with standardized, objective and reliable procedures for how to do so. Often the Doctor has little or inadequate information beyond the self –reporting of the patient presenting to their office but is faced with making a decision that could potentially place the patient in harm’s way. Statistically, it is common for there to be a 25-30 percent response time deficit still present after the reported symptoms have subsided.

 

Evaluation processes and treatment methods are constantly evolving as research advances. To date, attempts to determine when a safe return-to-play status has been reached have been marked by contributions from a collection of available methods such as Neurocognitive testing, imPACT, SCAT, accelerometers, GPS tracking systems, elevating heart-rate, eye movement patterns (VOMS), impact meters and looking for the recurrence of symptoms. These all seek to extrapolate a picture of one’s overall fitness from isolated or limited aspects of one’s symptoms or performance. Clinically, none of these methods have proven to be reliable predictors of safe return-to-activity. 

What has been proven clinically is the link between head injury and delayed or impaired reaction time and the ability to decelerate (stop).  The link between concussion and orthopaedic injury, such as risk to the ankle and knees with impaired cognitive function or the risk of concussion injury post orthopaedic injury, has been proven as well.

Furthermore, functional movement imbalances-that is asymmetries in left/right movement (shuffle test) have been found to be an indicator of lingering concussions and/orthopaedic injury.

Thus, no participant should ever return to their respective activity until they are able to read, respond and, react to visual cues at full speed, under exertion, as well as they could before their injury.   

 

Here’s the problem: None of the commonly used testing and screening methods accurately test and compare pre- and post-injury performance. Enter TRAZER! 

TRAZER is a neuromechanical device – which overloads the brain with multiple tasks, while the body is in constant motion and concurrently works to elevate the heart rate. TRAZER places demands upon the participant that resemble tasks that they are frequently required to perform throughout activity, thus making the results relevant in the real world. 

 It is believed that this synergy, requiring the subject to sense – process – and execute concurrently is what sets it apart.
TRAZER is a baseline testing device that uses computer simulation and high-powered optics to simultaneously and objectively measure one’s processing of cognitive, sensory and motor information. It includes a six stage progressive concussion management system that was specifically designed by the Cleveland clinic. TRAZER has been providing sports performance and rehabilitation data for healthcare providers for 20 years.

 

I first served, 27 years ago, as a trainer in the GTHL and subsequently as a head coach and trainer for many years. In my experience, systems that revolve around players subjectively deciding when they feel ready to return are doomed to fail, as many players may not translate their symptoms accurately and on occasion intentionally mislead the decision maker to expedite their return to play.

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Span Performance Testing is proposing where technology has afforded us the ability to be more accurate, implementing baseline testing that exploit leading edge, well-researched technology.

TRAZER provides an objective universal standard screening test that can serve as an additional evaluation tool for both concussion and orthopaedic injury. TRAZER can be used for all sports and can monitor an individual’s progression or regression over time and assist in evaluating those claiming they are ready and fit to return.  Computer generated comparative printouts following each test are available for decision-makers to evaluate. One must be able to perform on subsequent tests as they could before injury and prove that reaction time and other key performance parameters have healed to the point where protecting one-self in real time and space will be possible. The testing is performed in a safe environment and measures reaction time to random stimuli, in addition to acceleration, deceleration, speed, distance travelled and heart rate - all of which have relative and collective significance and can uncover and quantify cognitive and motor deficiencies. 

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 The TRAZER is the most significant and up-to-date technological advancement (2019 most recent update) in objectively gauging one’s performance during recovery. Incorporating it into the decision-making process will help reduce stress on players, parents, coaches, volunteers, trainers and doctors. Because it compares the athlete’s movement metrics pre- and post-injury, it provides clearly defined targets to work towards.

 

Five years ago, I was a guest on City TV News advocating the importance of proper protocol implementation on matters such as this: (https://toronto.citynews.ca/2014/08/21/chiropractor-discusses-concussions-and-preventions/). I have been a guest on Breakfast Television, co-hosted a sports injury show on The Fan sports radio station and have appeared on concussion related web podcasts.

 I have incorporated those proposed protocols that are currently being suggested for more than twenty-five years now, and can tell you that, objective testing is required to more accurately assess improvement at all stages of the recovery process.

 

There have been great strides made recently to increase the public’s concussion awareness and the necessity for immediate removal of participants from activity following head trauma. However, the potentially devastating effects of concussion and second impact syndrome have made it equally important to make progress in the safe return-to-play decision making process. We must act now to facilitate change and concentrate on incorporating superior diagnostics, better treatment and screening tests for the injured. 

 

TRAZER provides benefits unavailable anywhere else:

 

• Designed to Protect the Injured Athlete;

• Objective, standardized and relevant data is managed via a secure, private web portal

• Data can be shared with Other Testing Facilities, healthcare providers, coaches, etc.

• Data has been validated against the Viacon MoCap System and is accurate 

• Portable; 

• Cost Effective;

• Interactive;

• An Administration Time-Saver;

• Fun, challenging and quick;

• The Most Advanced, Informative and Clinically Proven Testing Available. 

• An invaluable component of the decision-making process going forward

 

We would like the opportunity to demonstrate the benefits of this product to you so you can see its value first hand. Please contact us at Span Performance Testing.

 

Let technology measure your performance capabilities and become part of the solution to providing safer return-to-play decisions.

                              

READ REACT RESPOND

                                                                             

MEASURE WHAT MATTERS BEFORE YOU RETURN

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 Thank you, 

 Dr. Stuart Greenspan, DC