Researchers instructed 140 athletes to rest for 14 days following concussion, while the other 167 concussed athletes initiated an exercise-based rehabilitation plan immediately following the concussion.
Compared to the exercising athletes, the athletes instructed to rest from physical activity were 6.7 times less likely to have returned to academic activities by day 4 post-injury and 26.7% less likely to have returned to sport by day 30 post-injury.
Conclusions
Exercise-based rehabilitation must be initiated immediately without delay following concussion, and resting from physical activity leads to significantly worsened outcomes.
References
Glendon, K., Blenkinsop, G., Belli, A., & Pain, M. (2024). A controlled early-exercise rehabilitation program commencing within 48 h of a sports-related concussion improves recovery in UK student-athletes: a prospective cohort study. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport.