Study: Resuming Physical Activity Could Improve Symptoms Post-Concussion

According to a new study, children and adolescents who return to physical activities within 7 days after receiving an acute concussion are less likely to experience prolonged symptoms. Their evidence contradicts the current guidelines that suggest children and adolescents with concussions should rest until symptoms abate, and illustrates that children and adolescents who return to physical activity within 7 days are less likely to experience persistent postconcussive symptoms.

The study consisted of 2413 participants between the ages of 5 and 18 who met concussion diagnosis criteria. The average age was 11 years-old, and 1205 of the participants were female (39.3%). Researchers used standardized questionnaires given to participants emitted in emergency departments, and followed-up at 7 days and at 28 days with e-mails or phone calls.
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Their findings showed that 1677 participants (69.5%) reported participating in physical activities and 736 participants reported no physical activity (30.5%). In patients who engaged in early physical activity, 532 (31.3%) were symptom free at day 7 and 803 (48%) had at least 3 persistent or worsening postconcussive symptoms. At day 7 for patients who reported no physical activity, 584 (79.5%) had at least 3 persistent or worsening postconcussive symptoms.

The results indicated that children and adolescents returning to physical activity within 7 days after receiving a concussion lowered their risk for persistent postconcussive symptoms. “Early physical activity could mitigate the undesired effects of physical and mental deconditioning associated with prolonged rest,” the researchers concluded.

—Melissa Weiss

Reference:

Grool AM, Aglipay M, Momoli F, et al. Associations between early participation in physical activity following acute concussion and persistent postconcussive symptoms in children and adolescents [published online December 20, 2016]. JAMA. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.17396.