Team of Experts

Taking a few days off from school to allow for complete physical and cognitive rest is usually enough to allow most athletes to return to class with no problems, but those who are still experiencing cognitive difficulties, academic accommodations may be necessary, says Dr. William P. Meehan, III.

As soon as an athlete is symptom free, he can start the step by step process towards a return to full game play, says Dr. William P. Meehan, III, starting with light aerobic exercise, and, if concussion symptoms don't recur, to more rigorous aerobic exercise, non-contact practice, full-contact practices, and eventually game play. 

It was only when the use of pre-season and post-concussion neurocognitive testing proved that concussions were having a real effect on brain function that the sports and medical community began to take them seriously, says Dr. William P. Meehan, III.

It is reasonable for professional athletes and college athletes with a realistic possibility of a pro career to accept more risk in deciding whether to retire after suffering series of concussions but other athletes should assume less risk, says Dr. William P. Meehan, III.

In most cases, athletes who get five days of complete physical and cognitive rest and stay home from school after a concussion can return to the classroom the following week, but some may need academic accommodations, says Dr. William P. Meehan, III.

Concussion expert Dr. William P. Meehan, III explains why athletes who try to intentionally fail a baseline neurocognitive test in order to be able to return to play sooner after a concussion are only putting themselves at risk.