The Matthew J. Morahan III Health Assessment Center for Athletes (MJM) at RWJBarnabas Health will provide free cardiac and concussion baseline screenings to young athletes on Saturday, March 3, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at South Mountain Recreation Complex, Codey Arena, 560 Northfield Avenue, West Orange.
When preliminary testing to identify serious cardiac problems is provided to young athletes, sudden cardiac arrest and tragic deaths may be avoided. Nearly 90 percent of sudden cardiac deaths in young athletes occur during or after athletic activities, and hidden heart conditions are often the cause. Cardiac screening, available to 6- to 18-year-olds, will help to identify players who may require further testing or intervention.
Having a concussion baseline study (ImPACT) for a young athlete can help identify issues in the future. If an athlete is believed to have suffered a head injury, this screening test may be used to evaluate the severity of the head injury and determine when it is safe to return to play. Concussion screening is now available to those as young as 5 years of age; it was previously only offered to those aged 10 and up.
Through education, evaluation and assessment of sports injury and sports-related cardiac and concussion screenings, the Matthew J. Morahan III Health Assessment Center for Athletes provides is committed to a statewide effort in NJ, touching thousands of lives with its efforts since inception in 2010. The significance of MJM’s programs and screenings is the impact it has on lives. Out of 26,000 screenings, over 1,000 student-athletes were identified with potential cardiac issues and over 3,000 student-athletes with concussions required further testing following a brain injury. At least five of these cardiac findings were life-changing.
Screenings are free of charge and a parent or guardian is asked to be present. Registration is required. To register and schedule an appointment time, parents/guardians are asked to email [email protected].
