Light Exercise in the Days After a Concussion May Shorten Recovery Time

Bicycling quotes John J. Leddy, clinical professor of orthopaedics and director of the UB Concussion Management Clinic at UBMD Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, in a story on how light aerobic activity — such as walking, running, stationary cycling, and swimming — may play a valuable role in shortening recuperation time during post-concussion recovery. “Although this strategy has not been studied as extensively in adults, I suspect that it applies to all ages,” says Leddy, first author of a recent study in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health. “This clearly demonstrates that strict physical rest until symptoms spontaneously resolve is no longer an acceptable way to treat sport-related concussion in adolescents.” The new findings are the result of a large body of work by Leddy and colleague Barry S. Willer, PhD, professor of psychiatry and research director in the Concussion Management Clinic. MSN, Yahoo! Life and other publications also carried the story.​