New concussion testing software for schools

MANKATO, Minn. (KEYC) - The Mankato Clinic Foundation and the Orthopedic and Fracture Clinic are continuing their partnership to bring Sway, a concussion diagnostic tool, to Greater Mankato Area Schools.

“It’s very beneficial that they have those tests out in the field. So you know, whether it’s the testing or the follow-up, they can monitor those athletes at the school, at practice, however, and they need to do it,” Mankato Clinic physical therapy manager Michael Much said.

The diagnostic tool is used by OFC athletic trainers contracted to the schools.

“We’re kind of that first people that evaluate, diagnose, refer in if we feel like they need further imaging or testing, and we’re there to help them with that,” OFC athletic trainer Mallory Korver said.

Sway is downloaded onto a personal smartphone or provided tablet and then the student uses only that device to take the tests. Once a baseline result has been established, Sway can check for abnormal results on subsequent tests.

“Sway is going to help us with our more of our return to activity, return to play, return to learn,” Korver said.

Sway has students perform a balance, reaction, impulse and memory test.

“I had a couple of them kind of stop and say that they really enjoyed it compared to the testing platform that we used before, that they seemed a little bit more streamlined, a little bit more fun to say, just because some of those tests can kind of seem like kind of a game,” OFC athletic trainer Jonathan Murillo said.

Sway is a helpful tool in the athletic trainer’s toolbox, but it isn’t the sole decision maker.

“It’s more of if we feel like the athlete has a concussion, we’re going to pull them from that activity. So that’s not like a sway decision,” Korver said.

Already 1,200 student athletes in the Greater Mankato Area have taken the baseline test and as the school goes on OFC athletic trainers will add to those numbers.

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