Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 2 (SCAT2)

With the prevalence of concussion's occurring in sports right now we must keep up with the latest evidence on concussion management.  Unfortunately, there is still no clear cut evidence on exact return to play criteria in concussions. Today's article focuses on the SCAT 2 assessment tool.  This article aimed to find baseline scores for the SCAT 2 in high school athletes.  Although the conclusion was not final, what we can take away from this article is that with a baseline score on the SCAT 2 before season, we can determine discrepancies when assessing an athlete during a game for concussion.
The SCAT 2 supersedes the original SCAT from 2005 and is used in athletes aged 10 and older.  The test involves a symptom questionnaire, glascow coma scale, maddocks sideline assessment, coordination, balance, and cognition scores.  The total score is out of 100 and again although no cut-off scores have been established yet, if a pre-season baseline is taken then it is a useful tool.  The SCAT 2 is endorsed by the IOC, IRB, IIHF, and FIFA.  
There is a download of the assessment tool online if you simply type in: SCAT 2 assessment tool.  Additionally, there is a FREE I-phone app that you can use which is nice because it adds up the scores for you.  Anyone performing sideline coverage will find this a useful app to have in their toolboxes, as many athletic trainers use it.   

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