New concussion protocol for kids: Get them back to school sooner - The Washington Post

Comment on this storyFor years, the treatment protocol for children with concussions involved keeping them out of school to rest in a quiet, dark room with reduced access to screens until they felt better.

In the past decade, however, doctors have been moving toward encouraging kids to return to school and light activity after only a couple of days of rest, even if symptoms persist.

It found that an early return to school — which researchers defined as missing less than three days — benefited children ages 8 to 18, who had less severe symptoms two weeks after their concussion compared with kids who stayed home longer.

This led researchers to suggest that a quicker return to school may reduce stress about missed classes and allow a child to stay on a normal sleep schedule and resume light-to-moderate physical activity earlier, all of which they believe will lead to a faster recovery.

“Most schools have concussion protocols, both for physical activity and also for academic accommodations,” said Sigrid Wolf, a pediatric sports medicine doctor at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago.

In Illinois, each school is required to have a concussion oversight team to assist with providing accommodations such as taking breaks, having extra time on tests or assignments or reading printed material rather than text on screens.