Rest and return-to-sport recommendations following sport-related concussion (PEDro synthesis)

McLeod TC, Lewis JH, Whelihan K, Bacon CE. Rest and return to activity after sport-related concussion: a systematic review of the literature. J Athl Train 2017; 52: 262–287. The international Concussion in Sport group consensus statement advocates rest (physical and cognitive) until the resolution of symptoms following sport-related concussion. It also recommends that athletes follow a graduated stepwise progressive protocol to safely return-to-sport (RTS).1 There is currently insufficient evidence1 for implementation of ‘Rest’ and/or ‘Graduated RTS protocol’ for concussion management, nor precise evidence-informed guidelines in terms of timing, quantity and duration for these interventions. The aim of the systematic review was to synthesise the literature related to rest and RTS/activity recommendations following sport-related concussion. The articles were retrieved using the search terms such as brain concussion, mild traumatic brain injury, physical and cognitive rest and return-to-activity. The databases were explored from the time of inception until October 2015, and these included the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, Educational Resources Information …