How long should you wait to exercise after a concussion ?
Immediately (up to 48 hours) after concussion, relative rest (i.e; engaging in light activities of daily living only) is recommended
This is a vulnerable period during which the brain is susceptible to repeat injury, or worsening symptoms with cognitive or physical stress
However
Graded exercise from 48 hours following concussion can help to heal the brain by:
Return to Exercise
- Sometimes, exercise can temporarily increase concussion-related symptoms
- If this happens to you, please discuss this with your health care provider
- Further testing by your physio might be recommended to better understand how your body responds to exercise and inform your exercise guidelines
In general, the key to building up your exercise tolerance is leaning into symptoms a small amount, then recovering (shown by the GREEN line). In this scenario, recovery is steady, and your symptoms are generally well-managed
If you lean too much into symptoms, you will likely make symptoms feel worse (shown by the RED line). In this scenario, recovery can feel really slow and uncomfortable
ACC has created National Guidelines for managing sports concussion in
New Zealand.
This is a snapshot of what a graded return to exercise & sport might look like.
In Conclusion
Resuming exercise at day three after your concussion is a healthy and important part of your recovery
A physiotherapist can help to guide what exercise is right for you
