New Concussion Guidelines Advocate for Sooner Return to School and Physical Activity

In a significant shift from previous recommendations, American Athletic Trainers are supporting new guidelines that may permit students who sustain concussions to reintegrate into academic and physical activities more rapidly.

Published in the Journal of Athletic Training, these guidelines are part of a statement encouraging healthcare practitioners to weigh the psychological impact on students sidelined from their daily routines due to concussion recovery.

“Current guidelines caution against returning students immediately to school, but this does not mean that they should remain at home for an extended period of time.”

Advocating for a brief period of cognitive rest, lasting 24 to 48 hours, it proposes that student-athletes should start their return-to-learn process by resuming school attendance.

Similarly, the guidelines suggest that concussed athletes can begin light exercise within the same timeframe, provided their symptoms are stable and do not significantly worsen.

The statement emphasizes the therapeutic potential of mild aerobic exercise for concussion recovery, marking a departure from earlier advice which recommended total rest and minimal stimulation until all symptoms disappeared.

This older approach, researchers now believe, may have adverse effects on a student's mental health due to the isolating nature of such recommendations.

Driven by 25 new recommendations from the National Athletic Trainers' Association, this updated approach adopts a more comprehensive strategy towards concussion management, considering the broader impacts on patient care and outcomes.

Dr. Christina Master, a pediatrician and sports medicine specialist at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, emphasizes the need for a balanced perspective on concussions, highlighting their serious nature alongside their manageability and potential for full recovery.

During a webinar discussing the paper, researchers expressed their hope that these guidelines would empower athletic trainers in their work with concussed athletes.

The guidelines align with those presented at the 2022 International Conference on Concussion in Sport in Amsterdam, offering Athletic Trainers a solid basis for action.

Dr. Stanley Herring, a notable figure in sports medicine, believes that these guidelines will not only improve care but also reinforce the role of athletic trainers in professional sports environments.

This evolution in concussion management reflects a growing understanding of the condition's multifaceted nature and the importance of a balanced, person-centered approach to recovery.