Mild, moderate physical activity may reduce time to symptom-free status after concussion
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Athletes diagnosed with a sports-related concussion had an association between mild to moderate physical activity acutely after concussion with reduced time to symptom-free status and return to participation, according to published results.
“Mild to moderate physical activity, typically normal [activities of daily living], acutely post-concussion (less than 72 hours) was associated with a quicker recovery than either limited or no physical activity or high levels of activity. Mental activity was not associated with time to recovery,” Thomas A. Buckley, EdD, ATC, told Healio. “We believe these results support recent research which suggests limited physical activity following a concussion is not detrimental to recovery and better than ‘cocoon therapy’ or rest until symptom free. Clinicians can likely be comfortable allowing concussed patients to participate in symptom-tolerated [activities of daily living] even acutely post-concussion.”
Buckley and colleagues had 78 NCAA Division I athletes diagnosed with a sports-related concussion complete a physical activity and mental activity scale daily until they were fully cleared for return to participation. Researchers assessed physical and mental activity during the first 2 days after concussion to time to symptom-free status and return to participation using a quadratic model regression.
Results showed patients had a self-reported 48-hour physical activity scale of approximately 1.8 with no difference between physical activity on day 1 and day 2, while patients had a self-reported 48-hour mental activity scale of approximately 2.7 with a significant increase in mental activity between day 1 and day 2. Researchers found no relationship between acute symptom burden and either early physical or mental activity.
Researchers noted a significant quadratic regression for both time to symptom-free status and return to participation. The only significant predictor for symptom-free day and return to participation day was reported early physical activity, according to results.
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