#13 - Rest is NOT Best

Let’s talk about a topic that’s been the center of a lot of the questions and stories we receive: the role of rest in how to treat a concussion. Long story short, experts agree that prolonged periods of rest are NOT helpful for concussion recovery.

As recently as 5 years ago, the recommended treatment for concussion was to rest until you felt 100% back to normal. Those that have experienced concussions and have been told to rest can agree that sitting in a dark room with no activity doesn’t make you feel better at all. In fact, it just makes it harder to get back to the activities you love. Your brain can’t heal fully when it’s not exposed to your everyday activities.

Concussion experts and recent research agree that a brief period of rest, about 1-2 days, followed by a gradual and progressive return to activity is the best way to treat concussions. This allows your brain to re-acclimate to the world around you and helps you get back to full activity without overtaxing the brain.

There’s still research to be done on concussions, but doctors are learning how to treat a concussion better every day. It’s one of the reasons it’s so important to see a trained concussion specialist – they know how to help you get back to 100% with treatment and rehabilitation. They will prescribe a progressive exercise plan that keeps your symptoms in check, gradually getting you back to full activity with no symptoms.

Want more information on concussion recovery and recent advances in concussion care? We have a free eBook available on Amazon. Just search “Concussion 101 Guide” and you’ll find it.