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New Study: More Screen Time Aids Concussion Healing
10 Jun
Summary
- Teenagers with concussions may recover faster with over two hours of screen time daily.
- Engaging with screens for 141 minutes a day was linked to a 35% faster symptom resolution.
- This finding challenges previous advice recommending screen avoidance after a head injury.
A recent study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine challenges previous notions about screen time following a concussion. For teenagers aged 11 to 17, engaging with screens for approximately 141 minutes per day in the first three days after injury was linked to a 35% faster recovery of symptoms.
The research analyzed data from 80 adolescents, monitoring them until their symptoms resolved or for up to 45 days. Contrary to earlier advice from Canadian and US researchers that suggested avoiding screens for the first 48 hours, this study indicates that a moderate amount of screen time may accelerate healing.
Specifically, symptoms resolved more quickly for those spending between 120 and 140 minutes daily on screens. Daily smartphone use within this timeframe led to symptoms clearing twice as fast. Watching TV for one to two hours daily also resulted in symptoms resolving three times faster compared to longer viewing durations.
Researchers noted that previous studies had inconsistent findings due to varying methodologies. They suggest that rather than complete avoidance, a balanced level of screen use, around two hours daily, could be recommended to support concussion recovery.
