Baseline Testing Program: HEADS UP Pittsburgh

HEADS UP Pittsburgh is a partnership between UPMC Sports Medicine, the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation, the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC), and the Center for Disease Control to offer free neurocognitive baseline testing, to youth athletes in Western Pennsylvania. 

Testing Details

Testing for athletes will be conducted at the UPMC Center for Sports Medicine and four CCAC locations:
  • CCAC–Boyce Campus in Monroeville
  • CCAC–North Campus in McCandless
  • CCAC–South Campus in West Mifflin
  • CCAC–West Hills Center in Oakdale.

Testing will begin on June 17 for hockey players only.  All other athletes will have the opportunity to test beginning July 15.  The last date to obtain the baseline test will be August 2.

 
Athletes must be between 10 and 14 years of age on the date of testing to be eligible for free neurocognitive baseline testing.
 
  • Athletes over 15 can take the neurocognitive baseline test at any location for a nominal fee of $25.00.
  • Athletes ages six  to nine years old can take the pediatric neurocognitive baseline test only at the UPMC Center for Sports Medicine for a nominal fee of $25.00
Please note that registrations will be on a first come first serve basis. It is strongly recommended that you register your athlete as early as possible to avoid missing your opportunity for the free test. Please use the online registration form located to the right of this page. 
 
Prior to your test, the following forms will need to be completed and brought with you to your appointment.
 

Learn More about Baseline Testing

Postinjury Neurocognitive Concussion Evaluation

Developed by experts at the UPMC Sports Concussion Program, the ImPACT™  (Immediate Postconcussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing) tool establishes a benchmark for a patient's normally functioning brain activities.
 
The ImPACT tool is most effective in the comparative assessment of a patient's neurocognitive state before a concussion actually occurs.
 
Postinjury care is critical and the baseline ImPACT test can help our experts manage the injury more accurately. Other neuropsychological tests may be conducted to manage the individual's case as well.
 
UPMC Sports Concussion Program neuropsychologists recommend baseline concussion testing for children:
 
  • Ages 12 and under — every year.
  • Ages 13 and older — every two years.

About ImPACT Baseline Concussion Testing

ImPACT is a computer-based test that evaluates and documents multiple aspects of an athlete’s neurocognitive state, such as well:
 
  • Brain processing speed
  • Memory
  • Reaction time
  • Visual motor skills
It does not diagnose a concussion, but establishes benchmark data when a player is in a nonconcussed or “normal” state.
 
Experts in concussion management and rehabilitation use the test as part of the clinical evaluation.
 
To learn more about concussions, visit the UPMC Sports Concussion Program.

Free Baseline Concussion Testing for Young Athletes

Please note, testing dates and times are on a first come, first serve basis. We strongly recommend registering as early as possible. Please use this online registration form.​​

 

Heads UP Pittsburgh is funded by:

 

Visit the new Training Room website to learn more about hockey testing and injury prevention and treatment, as well as a behind the scenes look at the Penguins.

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