Resuming non-contact physical activity 72 hours after a concussion is safe, and may also reduce symptoms and the risk of delayed recovery, a real-world, randomized clinical trial on the topic conducted with children and youth aged 10 to 18 suggests.

Led by researchers at the CHEO Research Institute, the multi-site study was published by the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Previous randomized clinical trials have been smaller in nature, conducted in the lab or only used a sport-related population.

“The findings of this study should give every health-care professional who manages kids with concussions the confidence to prescribe early and controlled return to physical activity, even if they have symptoms.”

“The study confirms that early return to physical activity is safe, can reduce concussion symptoms and reduces the rate of delayed recovery. Gone are the days of resting in a dark room.”

— Andrée-Anne Ledoux, the study’s corresponding author, a scientist at the CHEO Research Institute, a pediatric health-care and research centre in Ottawa, Canada, and an assistant professor at the University of Ottawa

PedCARE Study

Called PedCARE, the clinical trial divided 456 participants into two groups. One group rested until symptom resolution after their concussion and the second group started to re-introduce physical activity 72 hours after the concussion, according to a set protocol. They regularly answered a standard survey about their symptoms and their activity levels were recorded using an accelerometer.

At 2 weeks, symptoms were comparable between both groups, which means that early physical activity was not harmful. When examining results of everyone who stayed within the prescribed level of activity, those who re-introduced physical activity early showed improved symptoms and a reduced rate of delayed recovery, when compared to those who rested until they were symptom free.

The study sets out guidelines for gradually introducing physical activity back into the daily routine of a child or youth. For example, at 72 hours after the injury, the youth should start walking for 15 minutes at a moderate level. If symptoms are tolerable the youth should increase their physical activity intensity the next day, for example, light jogging.

If symptoms are not tolerable while doing physical activity or after physical activity, the next day the child or youth should return to the last well-tolerated physical activity intensity and re-attempt progression after 24 hours. They must be cleared by their primary care provider before returning to contact sports.

[Source(s): University of Ottawa, Science Daily]