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No Strict Rest After Concussion and Other New Guidelines Released
Strict rest should be avoided after a concussion, but light-intensity physical activity, such as walking, can help recovery. Screen use should also be limited in the first 48 hours following the injury, according to a new statement released by the Concussion in Sport Group published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. The new guidelines come following the organization’s 6th International Conference on Concussion in Sport, held in Amsterdam from October 27 to 30, 2022.
The new guidelines also updated the definition of concussion, though “work continues toward a unified conceptual and operational definition.” The consensus statement also highlighted sport-specific strategies for prevention, including policy changes to reduce collisions (such as suggesting disallowing body-checking in hockey), neuromuscular training, and the implementation of optimal concussion management strategies to decrease recurrent concussion rates.
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The conference also produced updated versions of the Concussion Recognition Tool-6 (CRT6) and Sport Concussion Assessment Tool-6 (SCAT6, Child SCAT6), designed for use within the first 72 hours (and up to 1 week) following injury. Additionally, new office tools, the Sport Concussion Office Assessment Tool-6 (SCOAT6) and Child SCOAT6, were developed for post-72-hour evaluations and subsequent weeks.
The statement updated return-to-learn and return-to-sport strategies, and underscored the benefits of physical activity and aerobic exercise as early interventions. For athletes experiencing neck pain, headaches, dizziness, and/or balance issues, cervicovestibular rehabilitation was recommended.
For individuals with persisting symptoms lasting more than 4 weeks, a multimodal clinical assessment using standardized symptom rating scales was proposed.
The potential long-term effects of sports-related concussions and repetitive head impacts, sex-based differences in concussion prevention and management, concussion diagnosis and management in para-athletes, and concussions in children aged 5 to 12 years were acknowledged as areas requiring dedicated research, the Concussion in Sport Group noted.
