In a study presented at the American College of Sports Medicine's annual meeting, Anthony Kontos, PhD, and colleagues found athletes take three to four weeks to recover from concussions, longer than the previously suggested seven to 14 days, according to Medscape.
Here are six things to know:
1. Dr. Kontos and colleagues followed 24 female and 42 male high school and college athletes following a concussion diagnosis.
2. Athletes were tested ever week, up to four weeks, to measure symptoms, memory, motor process speed, reaction time and more.
3. Although the athletes made the most improvements in the first two weeks, they continued to improve for up to four weeks.
4. Women took longer than men.
5. The study ran out of funding after four weeks.
6. Dr. Kontos said clinicians should use more than these measures to determine if an athlete is recovered from a concussion, reports Medscape.