Despite recent gains in concussion research and community education, there are still many concussion myths that come up in discussion.

Myth: You Must Rest in a Dark Room to Recover from a Concussion

Fact: Long periods of rest after a concussion may not help recovery. A Brief period of rest, about 24-48 hours, is enough. Gradual return to activity and active rehabilitation are effective ways to treat a concussion after that.

In the article by John Leddy et al; The Role of Controlled Exercise in Concussion Management published in Science Direct (March 2016), states that traditionally, patients have been advised to restrict physical and cognitive activity until all symptoms resolve. However, recent research suggests that prolonged rest beyond the first couple of days after a concussion might hinder rather than aid recovery. Humans do not respond well to removal from their social and physical environments, and sustained rest adversely affects the physiology of concussion and can lead to physical deconditioning and reactive depression.

Recent studies have begun to challenge the utility of prolonged rest as treatment for concussion. Citing the risk for prolonged and exacerbated symptoms that may not be directly related to the concussive injury, some medical organizations have recommended that athletes be permitted to engage in limited physical and cognitive activity as long as it does not worsen symptoms.

In support of this approach, recent studies predominantly focusing on patients with postconcussion syndrome have shown that more liberal noncontact activity recommendations and controlled, subsymptom threshold aerobic exercise may enhance recovery after concussion, particularly in persons with postconcussion syndrome.

New data suggest that exercise improves brain function via favorable effects on brain neuroplasticity as early as after 6-8 weeks. The rapidity of the beneficial effect of exercise on the brain suggests that the mechanism is not reduced cerebrovascular disease risk but improved neuronal function.

Are you suffering from Post Concussion Syndrome Symptoms? The cause of your concussion may not be sport related, probably because of head impact injury from a fall, accidentally bumping head against object around the house, whiplash associated injury, car accident, blast explosion related injuries, or prolonged exposure to loud noise at a firing range.

Undergoing prompt vestibular rehab will take you to the next level in your recovery. We are here to help. Contact us today: 915-503-1333.

“You Don’t Have To Live With It” Help is available.