Remote exercise program helps teens recover from concussion
Young people recovering from concussions found faster relief through a remote aerobic exercise program compared to stretching alone.
A study published in JAMA Pediatrics showed that guided aerobic activity helped teenagers return to normal life sooner than other methods. Researchers tracked two hundred ten participants across four states who had suffered brain injuries about seventy three days earlier on average.
Participants assigned to aerobic exercise used fitness trackers to maintain heart rates near one hundred twenty beats per minute during weekly coaching. They followed a structured plan that involved regular video calls with trained health specialists to review progress.
They gradually increased intensity to one hundred fifty beats per minute while stretching participants received similar support without the physical activity. Three months after enrollment, the exercise group reported greater improvements in symptoms and overall quality of life.
No bad events occurred during the six week intervention period for any of the young participants. Lead researcher Sara Chrisman explained that having a guide helps push through fear of movement to return to routines. The study suggests timing matters, as exploratory analyses found additional benefits only for those enrolled within ninety days of their initial injury.
“the brain heals by doing”