What is the standard for return to play following concussion?
Emma Johnson
Updated on March 02, 2026
24 hours between steps: Generally, each step should take at least 24 hours, so that, assuming the athlete does not experience a recurrence of concussion symptoms at rest or with exercise as she progresses through the exercise program, she will be able to return to sports in about a week’s time after symptoms have …
How long will the athlete be out of play with a concussion?
Once post-injury neurocognitive test results are favorable in comparison to the baseline and the symptoms have resolved, then the athlete can resume play. Grade 3 – We recommend that athletes wait at least 10 days before they participate in any activity that can result in head trauma.
What is the recovery process for a concussion?
Concussion recovery and treatment. Approximately 80 percent of concussions resolve over seven to 14 days, with an average of 10 days. People with concussions should never return to sports or other physical activity sooner than one week from sustaining the injury.
When can you return to school after a concussion?
When concussion symptoms have lessened and are tolerable for up to 30 to 45 minutes, a child should return to school. This will usually happen within a few days and certainly within the first week of the concussion. Prolonged absences from school following a concussion is discouraged.
How long is concussion protocol?
There’s no set duration for a concussion protocol because there’s a great deal of variation in how long it takes for the brain to recover and heal. In general, the length of the protocol depends on the length of recovery, which in most cases is about two weeks.
Should athletes be permitted to return to play after multiple concussions?
The physician must carefully assess and reassess every athlete with a concussion. No athlete should be permitted to return to play while signs or symptoms of a concussion are present. The final decision regarding return to play should be based on the clinical judgment of the treating physician.
Can concussion symptoms return?
Yes, symptoms of a concussion can come and go. Some patients feel great after their initial recovery. Then a few days or weeks later, those symptoms return with ferocity.
What protocol is used for a concussion?
NFL’s 2013 protocol for players with concussions. Other neuropsychological tests are standard paper and pencil tests typically administered by a neuropsychologist. Each team has a neuropsychologist to interpret the neuropsychological tests and serve as a consultant to help with this aspect of concussion care.
What exactly is the concussion protocol?
The NFL’s concussion protocol consists of a three-step process that a player must go through before being cleared to return. There is no specific timetable listed, as “each player and each concussion is unique,” the protocol states.
What is football’s concussion protocol?
When a player shows signs of a possible concussion, he must be immediately removed from the game. The physician and the consultant review film of the play and perform a test of the symptoms. If suspicion of a concussion continues, the player is escorted to the locker room for a full examination.