The longer adolescents continued to play after a concussion, the worse the outcomes

A study found symptoms were worse, and recovery was slower in adolescents (aged 11-19 years) who continued to play after suffering a concussion. Researchers Daniel B. Charek, PhD, et al. found a dose-response to continuing to play after a concussion. They found that staying in the game longer than fifteen minutes (Long-Play) produced significantly worse outcomes than staying in the game less than fifteen minutes (Short-Play), and those athletes immediately removed from play (Removed) had the best outcomes. Average time to recovery (clearance to play) was 44 days for Long-Play, 28 days for Short-Play, and 19 days for Removed. Also, “Short-Play was 5.43 times more likely, and Long-Play 11.76 times more likely, to experience protracted recovery relative to Removed.” 

In terms of symptom burden during the first 7 days after injury, Short-Play and Long-Play had “worse neurocognitive performance and higher symptom scores” than Removed. During days 8 through 30 after the injury, Short-Play and Long-Play had worse visual memory and visual-motor speed than Removed. In this same time period, verbal memory and reaction time were worse in Long-Play than Removed, but Short-Play was not affected. The study, which emphasized the need for immediate removal from play after a concussion, was published in The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation.