New concussion guidelines could get athletes back to exercise, school earlier

American athletic trainers are getting behind guidelines that could allow students who sustain a concussion to return to class and physical activity sooner. A statement published Tuesday in the Journal of Athletic Training encourages practitioners to consider the psychological effects on students if they are kept out of school while they recover. The guidelines give a similar timeframe for a concussed athlete to resume light exercise — as long as their symptoms are stable and the effort does not make them much worse. Earlier guidance on concussions recommended total rest and minimal stimulation until symptoms went away.