Fatigue after concussion is common and can affect mental, emotional, cognitive, and physical energy. Everyday activities may feel more draining than before, and fatigue can make other concussion symptoms feel worse. Understanding how fatigue works and learning ways to manage energy can support recovery and help you return to daily activities safely.
What is Fatigue?
Fatigue is tiredness and can be mental/emotional, cognitive or physical
Usual everyday tasks may make you feel more tired than before your concussion and drain your energy more quickly
Fatigue can make your concussion symptoms feel worse
Brain Drain
All activities require a certain amount of brain energy
The further your brain battery drops, the less productive you may be and the longer it will take to recharge/recover
If you STOP early enough, you will require less time out to recharge and be able to get on with your tasks with a fresher/clearer brain
High Brain Drain Examples
Low Brain Drain examples
Your activity zone
- Too much activity
Boom and bust pattern (feel good, do too much, then crash and symptoms increase) - Just right
A balance of activity and rest with symptoms being managed effectively - Too little activity
Limits recovery, can lead to low mood, deconditioning and intolerance of activity
Tips to manage fatigue
- Balance activities with regular brain breaks
- One good rest in your day (ideally between 12-1pm for no longer than 40 minutes). Avoid resting/napping after 3pm as this can affect your night sleep
- Spread your activities across the day and week
- Gradually increase how much you do in your day. You can start this while you still have symptoms. Your team will guide you on how to do this, including planning and prioritising your activities
