Dr. John Kelley, DPT, MTC, ATC, the director and owner of Private Therapy Services Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Center, has helped put Charleston in the news for another national achievement. By completing the state-of-the-art concussion care management training through ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing), Kelley has become the countries first ITPT (ImPACT Trained Physical Therapist). He has already utilized the ImPACT system at his practice as an ImPACT Trained Athletic Trainer, but now can incorporate post injury rehabilitation techniques into the most-widely used and most scientifically validated computerized concussion evaluation system available.
According to Kelley, this test provides doctors, nurses, coaches, families, and athletes with an objective evaluation of post-concussion damage, allowing for safe and appropriate management for a full recovery to school, work, sports, and other activities. We are already seeing some great treatment success stories from incorporating it into our practice. A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that results in a change in brain functioning. Concussion symptoms, lasting various lengths of time, may include amnesia, disorientation, confusion, fogginess, headache, blurred vision, nausea, fatigue, and sometimes loss of consciousness.
With the ITAT program training, Kelley becomes a more valuable resource in the community for ImPACT test administration and leading-edge concussion education, management, and treatment. The ITPT/ITAT programs enable physical therapists and athletic trainers to be recognized as leaders by serving as an ImPACT administrator to athletes, schools, youth club organizations, sports teams and doctors in their communities who are in need of this resource.