Longer Rest After Concussions Might Not Be Good, Study Says

Concussion patients who wait several days to resume physical activity after receiving a hit may be more likely to suffer symptoms of the condition, a new study suggests. The research calls into question the five-day waiting period for concussion patients recommended by some doctors.

The study, published Monday in the journal Pediatrics, compared patients who waited five days to resume physical activity with those who waited one or two days. Patients who waited longer were more likely to report suffering from headaches and nausea in the first few days after the concussion and emotional symptoms in the 10 days following the blow.

The study looked at almost 100 concussion patients between the ages of 11 and 22 who had been admitted to the emergency room with a concussion. The findings do not necessarily apply to patients with more severe concussions.

None of the patients in the study were hospitalized.