One exercise session within 14 days of concussion improves executive function immediately after

By Josh Wu. This article was initially published in the 5/15/25 Edition of our Concussion Update newsletter; please consider subscribing.

A recent clinical study led by Rahimi et al. examined the effects of sub-symptom threshold aerobic exercise on executive function in individuals recovering from sport-related concussions (SRC). After a concussion, executive function (which includes mental processes like working memory, attention, and problem-solving) is frequently compromised. The purpose of the study was to ascertain whether aerobic exercise at levels below thresholds for symptom exacerbation could promote cognitive recovery in the initial phases following an injury. 

The findings, published in the Journal of Sport Sciences, revealed that after one exercise session, participants' executive function significantly improved. According to these results, people recovering from SRC may experience immediate cognitive advantages from even one session of supervised aerobic exercise. According to the researchers' hypothesis, this type of exercise could improve cognitive recovery by increasing cerebral blood flow, promoting neuroplasticity, and modifying neuroinflammatory responses. 

The study involved 16 University of Western Ontario varsity athletes diagnosed with SRC who were within three to 14 days post-injury and 16 non-concussed controls. Each participant underwent a single 20-minute session of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, carefully calibrated to avoid triggering concussion symptoms. Executive function was assessed before and after the exercise session using standardized neurocognitive tests, including rapid eye movement assessments.

The study had some drawbacks, such as a small sample size and the short-term nature of the intervention. Furthermore, there was no long-term follow-up in the trial to evaluate how long-lasting the cognitive gains were. Future research should explore the long-term effects of sub-symptom threshold aerobic exercise on cognitive recovery post-concussion and determine how to incorporate and optimize these exercise protocols for concussion rehabilitation.