Better to exercise than to rest from a concussion

A new study reveals that convulsed teenagers recover faster if they are prescribed aerobic exercise, such as running on a treadmill or using an exercise bike.

On average, they recovered four days faster than teenagers who were just doing stretching exercises and who took 17 days.

One in four (four per cent) of the group of aerobic exercise took more than four weeks to recover. But the rate was higher for members of the stretching group: three out of twenty (14%) took a month to recover.

There is no proven treatment for concussion, especially among adolescents, who usually take the longest to recover.

The University of Buffalo's findings also contradict the traditional approach to concussion, which often involves almost total rest, eliminating most physical and mental activities, including school work.

Late recovery after a concussion creates more difficulty for school work, can lead to depression and puts additional demands on the health system and its costs

Dr. Barry Willer, Senior Writer, Professor of Psychiatry, said: "Until now, nothing else has proved its effectiveness for the treatment of concussion.

"This is the best evidence so far of effective treatment.

"To tell a teenager to go home and do nothing is depressing

"It can actually increase their physical and psychological symptoms, and we see this especially in girls.

"But with our approach, you say, of course, that you can go back to school and that you should start doing these exercises.

"Their chins are up, dad and mom are happy, as well as the student.

Professor John Leddy, first clinical professor in orthopedics, said: "This research provides the strongest evidence to date that an individualized and prescribed aerobic exercise program to maintain heart rate over- below the point of worsening symptoms is the best way to treat concussions in adolescents. "

The study involved 103 adolescents aged 13 to 18 years and an almost equal number of boys and girls participating in a randomized clinical trial of treatment in the acute phase after a sports-related concussion.

All were seen within 10 days of a sports-related concussion in one of UBMD's orthopedic and sports medicine clinics in western New York or at the University of New York. Pan Am Clinic in Winnipeg.

Each child was subjected to a treadmill test to see how much exercise he could withstand without worsening his symptoms.

The exercises were then adapted to each child after 52 people were badigned to the group of aerobic exercises and 51 to a group of stretches. All did 20 minutes a day.

Everyone also wore a heart monitor and posted online compliance and daily symptoms.

The members of the aerobics group have either walked on a treadmill, or a stationary bike, or marketed indoors or out.

In addition to the prescribed exercise, patients were advised to refrain from any contact sports, gym clbades or team practice.

They have been given advice on how to do their homework and avoid over-using electronic devices, as this can also worsen the symptoms.

A surprising finding is that only two out of 52 participants (four percent) of the group of aerobic exercises took more than four weeks to recover, compared to seven out of 51 (14%) in the stretching group.

This was not statistically significant, but the scientific literature suggests that between 15 and 25% of adolescents who receive no treatment will be symptomatic in the last four weeks.

Dr. Willer said: "Reducing the number of teenagers suffering concussions with delayed recovery has major consequences."

Late recovery creates more difficulties for school work, can lead to depression, and places additional demands on the health system and its costs.

Studies are planned to see if the treatment is equally effective in adults who have suffered a concussion.

The study was published in JAMA Pediatrics.