- How long after concussion can I get back to physical activity?
Do I have to sit in a dark room all by myself?
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- That's an excellent question.
Previous protocol have always prescribed rest until asymptomatic.
While rest plays an important role
for the first 24 to 48 hours,
prolonged rest can actually negatively
impact recovery and mental health.
Our study is the first real-world randomized clinical trial
to assess whether early return to physical activity is safe
and may reduce symptoms at two weeks.
456 patients with acute concussion
were recruited here at CHEO and at two other sites in Ontario,
and were randomized into two different groups.
The first group was returning early to physical activity
even if symptomatic,
and the second group was to return to physical activity
once completely asymptomatic.
All children wore an accelerometer to track their movement behavior,
and we looked at their symptoms at two weeks.
We have shown that it is safe to return to physical activity
at 72 hours post-injury,
and in those that adhere to the protocol
it may actually reduce symptoms at two weeks.
We encourage physician to prescribe physical activity
at 72 hours in children with a concussion.
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