Mankato Clinic and Orthopaedic & Fracture Clinic team up for concussion care
MANKATO (August 29, 2024) — To ensure the health and safety of youth athletes, the Mankato Clinic, Mankato Clinic Foundation and Orthopaedic & Fracture Clinic are continuing their partnership to fund and implement concussion testing for high school athletes. This school year, the Sway concussion management platform, which uses the advanced technology of smartphones, will be administered to 12 Mankato area schools, at no cost to the schools.
Sway is a diagnostic tool used by athletic trainers and healthcare providers across the U.S. for baseline testing, sideline evaluation and clearing athletes to return-to-learn and return-to-play. Sway tests are administered on an athlete’s or athletic trainer’s smartphone or mobile device. Mankato Clinic and OFC reviewed their concussion management software and upgraded to the technology that the Sway mobile platform provides. With the ease and convenience of a smartphone, Sway efficiently and accurately measures the athlete’s balance, cognition and function.
“In OFC’s continued commitment to provide the best sports medicine care to area athletes, we partnered with Mankato Clinic this past spring to identify the best tools available to implement concussion testing for student-athletes. OFC has been providing sports medicine coverage to our local high schools for 25 years and ensuring the athlete’s safe return to play after any injury is our top priority,” Tonya Paulsen, Orthopaedic & Fracture Clinic Physical Therapist and Athletic Trainer Supervisor, says.
In the state of Minnesota, athletic trainers can clear patients when they are symptom free in accordance with the concussion protocol of the Minnesota State High School League.
Mankato Clinic Sports Medicine along with physical, occupational and speech therapy may also play a key role in diagnosis, treatment and recovery. Dr. Thomas Finn, Sports Medicine, Mankato Clinic, leads the clinic’s concussion management program and is trained on the Sway platform. He is also a member of the Mankato Clinic Foundation Board.
“Concussions need to be diagnosed, treated and managed properly to help prevent lifelong impacts on young athletes,” Dr. Finn says. “Sway is one of the tools we use in clinic. As a sports medicine physician, I evaluate symptoms, track progress, and closely assess balance, coordination and exertion stress. I create a personalized recovery plan and educate athletes and parents on how to safely return to learn and play.”
Since 2009, the Mankato Clinic Foundation has funded concussion management software in Greater Mankato schools and youth sports organizations. The Orthopaedic & Fracture Clinic contracts OFC athletic trainers with local schools and began partnering with the Mankato Clinic Foundation on concussion management software in 2020.
“The Mankato Clinic Foundation, Mankato Clinic and the Orthopaedic & Fracture Clinic are natural partners to implement concussion management in our schools and youth sports. We are proud to work together to ensure the health and well-being of our young athletes,” Dr. Finn says.
About Mankato Clinic
In 1916, Mankato Clinic was founded in Mankato by five area physicians who believed that a comprehensive, multi-specialty group practice offered the best means of providing quality health care to the residents of southern Minnesota. Mankato Clinic has grown to over 180 physicians and practitioners and employs over 900 people and is the largest, physician-owned and led multi-specialty healthcare groups in the state of Minnesota.
About Mankato Clinic Foundation
A small, dedicated group of physicians started the Mankato Clinic Foundation in 1965, making it one of the oldest foundations in Minnesota. Since that time, the foundation has expanded its reach by funding local programs, scholarships and organizations that improve people’s health and wellness. The foundation receives the majority of its funding from Mankato Clinic physicians, along with giving by Mankato Clinic staff and the greater Mankato community.
About Orthopaedic & Fracture Clinic
The Orthopaedic & Fracture Clinic is Southern Minnesota’s leader in orthopedic care providing outstanding bone, joint and muscle care since 1957. With a team of nine (9) highly skilled Board Certified surgeons and a total staff of 113, including Advanced Practice Providers and Physical and Occupational Therapists, OFC offers personalized treatment plans utilizing the latest medical advancements and technologies. OFC’s primary location in Mankato offers comprehensive services including walk-in appointments, in-office X-Ray and MRI advanced diagnostic technology and physical therapy services. Recognized as providing the #1 ortho program in the state at River’s Edge Hospital, OFC is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for individuals suffering from orthopedic issues.