UPMC Sports Medicine, in partnership with the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation, is bringing its nationally recognized HeadsUP Pittsburgh program to the UPMC Wellness Center at the Wilfred R. Cameron Pavilion this summer, offering free pediatric and adult ImPACT concussion baseline testing for local youth athletes.

This program helps young athletes stay safe by providing baseline testing and education before the sports season begins. Athletes who participate in activities like football, soccer, hockey, cheerleading, dance, and more are encouraged to take part.

Since launching in 2010, HeadsUP Pittsburgh has provided baseline testing for more than 33,000 athletes across 39 sports and delivered concussion education to nearly 65,000 parents, coaches, referees, and teachers.

Understanding Baseline Testing

Concussion baseline testing is conducted by trained health care professionals to assess an athlete’s normal brain function while healthy. The test evaluates areas such as concentration, memory, reaction time, and symptoms that may be similar to a concussion, including headaches or sleep issues.

HeadsUP Pittsburgh uses ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing) for ages 10+ and Pediatric ImPACT for ages 5 to 9, a computer-based tool developed by UPMC concussion experts. They’re the most effective tools available and used worldwide for measuring a person’s neurocognitive state before a concussion occurs.

Baseline results serve as a comparison if a concussion occurs in the future. Along with a full clinical evaluation, this information helps guide recovery and determine when it is safe for an athlete to return to play. The test itself does not diagnose or prevent a concussion but provides valuable data for care decisions.

How to Participate

Free baseline testing will be offered at the UPMC Wellness Center in Washington from Monday, June 1, through Friday, July 31, for athletes ages 10 and older. Additional testing locations across the region are available for younger athletes. This year’s participants will receive various wellness items, including Pittsburgh Penguins merchandise, courtesy of the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation.

Registration is required, and space may be limited. Learn more and sign up.

UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program neuropsychologists advise baseline concussion testing each year for children ages 12 and under and every two years for children ages 13 and older.