NFHS Technology & Tools 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of wearable sensor technology measures head acceleration and rotation to help detect potential concussive impacts during athletic activity?
- GPS tracking devices
- Accelerometer-based impact sensors (Correct answer)
- Heart rate monitors
- Oxygen saturation sensors
Correct answer: Accelerometer-based impact sensors
Accelerometer-based impact sensors measure the linear and rotational forces on the head to flag impacts that exceed threshold levels.
Question 2: When using a sideline concussion assessment app, what is the primary purpose of the baseline data collected before the season?
- To determine a player's fitness level
- To provide an individual comparison point for post-injury evaluation (Correct answer)
- To satisfy insurance requirements
- To rank athletes by cognitive ability
Correct answer: To provide an individual comparison point for post-injury evaluation
Baseline data establishes each athlete's normal cognitive and symptom profile so any post-injury decline can be detected accurately.
Question 3: Which of the following best describes a limitation of impact-sensor helmet technology in concussion management?
- Sensors cannot measure rotational acceleration
- A triggered alert does not confirm a concussion has occurred (Correct answer)
- Sensors only work in football helmets
- They replace the need for medical evaluation
Correct answer: A triggered alert does not confirm a concussion has occurred
Impact sensors alert staff to high-magnitude hits, but a concussion diagnosis still requires clinical evaluation because not every big hit causes a concussion.
Question 4: An athletic trainer uses a digital symptom-checklist tool on a tablet immediately after a suspected head impact. What is the MOST important follow-up action if the athlete reports any symptoms?
- Allow the athlete to return if symptoms are mild
- Remove the athlete from activity and arrange medical evaluation (Correct answer)
- Retest the athlete in 15 minutes
- Compare symptoms to the team average
Correct answer: Remove the athlete from activity and arrange medical evaluation
Under NFHS guidelines, any concussion symptoms require immediate removal from activity and medical evaluation before return to play.
Question 5: The ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing) tool is classified as which type of technology?
- A wearable impact sensor
- A computerized neurocognitive testing platform (Correct answer)
- A CT scan alternative
- A paper-based symptom checklist
Correct answer: A computerized neurocognitive testing platform
ImPACT is a computerized neurocognitive test that measures memory, attention, processing speed, and reaction time.
Question 6: Which factor most limits the reliability of data from helmet-mounted impact sensors worn during a high school game?
- Sensor battery life
- Helmet fit and how well the helmet is coupled to the head (Correct answer)
- Wireless signal range on the field
- The color of the helmet
Correct answer: Helmet fit and how well the helmet is coupled to the head
Poorly fitted helmets move independently of the head, causing sensors to overestimate or underestimate actual head acceleration.
Question 7: A school adopts an electronic concussion tracking system to document athlete injuries over multiple seasons. What is a key benefit of this longitudinal data for athlete safety?
- It eliminates the need for physician clearance
- It helps identify athletes with repeated concussion history, informing return-to-play decisions (Correct answer)
- It automatically adjusts practice intensity
- It satisfies NCAA eligibility requirements
Correct answer: It helps identify athletes with repeated concussion history, informing return-to-play decisions
Longitudinal records reveal patterns of repeated concussions, which carry elevated risk for long-term brain injury and influence management decisions.
NFHS Technology & Tools 2
Which type of wearable sensor technology measures head acceleration and rotation to help detect potential concussive impacts during athletic activity?