A new survey, commissioned by UCLA Health, says most parents are following outdated advice when caring for a child with a concussion, and they may be slowing down the healing process.
The survey asked 569 parents in the United States what measures they would take if their child’s concussion symptoms lasted more than a week.
Of the parents surveyed, 77 % said they would likely wake their child up through the night to check on them.
Dr. Christopher Giza, a pediatric neurologist and director of the UCLA Steve Tisch BrainSPORT Progam, says there is a common misconception that you need to wake children up in order to detect possible swelling of the brain.
“But if you are still waking your child up a week after their injury, you are making matters worse, “Giza said. “Children need their sleep in order for their brains to heal.”
The survey also found 84% of parents won’t let their children exercise after a concussion. Giza said once symptoms like headache and confusion subside, non-contact aerobic exercise can actually help them heal.
“We want them to stay active and safely ease back into a normal routine,” he said. “This means not only getting fresh air and exercise, but socializing with their friends.”
The doctor said there’s nothing wrong with screen time and letting kids see their friends. He said isolating children with concussions can lead to anxiety and depression. More than half of the parents surveyed said they’d take away their child’s phone.
