Amberwell Moves to Sway Concussion Testing

Launch the media gallery 1 player

Amberwell Health has transitioned our neurocognitive baseline concussion testing to Sway Medical. This program assists our team physicians and athletic trainers in evaluating and treating head injuries, such as concussions. Sway is widely used in professional, collegiate, and high school sports programs across the country to help accurately diagnose and manage concussions.

Sway is a mobile app used to establish a baseline for athletes prior to their sports season. This baseline helps determine the severity of a concussion if one occurs and is also used throughout recovery to ensure the injury has fully healed.

Amberwell Health athletic trainers will administer the baseline test at your student’s school prior to the fall sports season. The test is completed on your student’s phone (or a provided device if needed). It is non-invasive, designed in a simple “video game” format, and takes approximately 20–25 minutes to complete. The Sway test evaluates areas such as symptoms, balance, memory, reaction time, speed, and concentration—essentially serving as a preseason “physical” for the brain.

If a concussion is suspected, the athlete will typically retake the test within 72 hours of the injury. A modified version of the test may also be administered on-site if warranted by the athletic trainer. Both baseline and post-injury results are reviewed by the concussion coordinator and a physician to guide diagnosis and recovery. This data helps determine when it is safe for the athlete to return to play. Before returning, the athlete must be medically cleared by a physician, return to their baseline Sway scores, and complete the established Return-to-Play protocol.

The Sway app is free and can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. No personal data is stored on the device, and the app may be deleted after the baseline test is completed if desired. Baseline testing will be conducted in a group setting, with each student using their own device when possible.

Please have your student download the Sway app prior to their scheduled baseline testing. An informational sheet and QR code for downloading the app are included.

If you have any questions about baseline testing or the Sway app, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,

Jeff Hale, MS, LAT, ATC

Head Athletic Trainer

Amberwell Health

jhale@amberwellhealth.org

*USD 429 Troy used Mosiac for Sway Testing 2 years ago.