Elk Grove Village, IL—(ENEWSPF)—January 5, 2015. After a concussion, children and adolescents are instructed to rest, but little data exists regarding the optimal period of rest following this type of injury. The study, “Benefits ofStrict Rest After Acute Concussion: A Randomized Controlled Trial,” published in the February 2015 Pediatrics (published online Jan. 5), sought to determine if five days of strict rest improved concussion recovery.
Researchers followed 88 patients aged 11 to 22 years; 45 of the patients were advised to follow strict rest at home, including no school, work or physical activity, followed by a stepwise return to activity. The other 43 patients followed usual care, which included resting for 1 or 2 days and then return to school and a stepwise return to physical activity after symptoms had resolved. There was no clinically significant difference in neurocognitive or balance outcomes between the two groups. However, the group advised to rest for five days reported more daily post-concussive symptoms and slower resolution of symptoms.
Study authors conclude recommending strict rest after a concussion offered no added benefit compared to usual care, and that teens’ reporting of symptoms was influenced by recommending strict rest.
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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 62,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults (www.aap.org). Follow us on Twitter @AmerAcadPeds.
Source: www.aap.org
