Better to rest after a concussion

Recent research discovered that it may be better to refrain from sports and "high-intensity activities" in the period after a concussion. Tara Parker-Pope writes:
"The researchers tracked the medical records and activity levels of 95 student athletes, including 15 girls, who had suffered concussions in school sports. The students were evaluated using cognitive tests immediately after the concussion and in follow-up visits. The data showed that athletes who engaged in the highest level of activity soon after the initial injury tended to demonstrate the worst neurocognitive scores and slowest reaction times. Students fared better if they didn’t return immediately to their sport but instead simply engaged in normal school and home activities."
Head injuries are common-place in contact martial arts, no matter how many safeguards are put in place. Link to the NYTimes blog article The original report
21/05/2008