3 Things to Do to Allow Your Brain to Recover More Quickly After Brain Injury

In an interview with neuropsychologist Dr. Richard Delmonico, which is available to view in full on my website here, he discussed three things in particular which help patients recover more quickly after brain injury: Rest, gradual re-introduction of exercise, and reduction of screen time. Dr. Delmonico speaks about those recommendations with regards to youth recovering from injuries sustained in sports, but here we’ll look at the three more generally.

Sleep Can Help the Brain Heal

Doctors working with someone experiencing memory, cognition, and physical problems after a brain injury typically remove that person from their work, school, and/or sports activity for a period of time, using an individualized approach, based on symptom severity and rate of recovery. In general, getting adequate sleep and abstaining from too many taxing mental or physical activities initially are very important in recovery.

See my blog about sleep here.

People need to strike a balance between too much activity, which can stress the brain, and total inactivity, which is also not helpful for recovery after a concussion. By paying attention to symptoms, and following their doctor’s advice, they can strike the right balance. You might find this pocket guide useful when you go to your doctor’s appointment.

Exercise Can Nourish the Brain

Exercise is actually beneficial for brain health, and re-introduction of exercise is very important for people with a history of concussion. People recovering from a brain injury who exercise regularly see improvements in mood, memory, and sleep. Healthcare providers recommend a variety of activities for the most benefit, including activities that get the heart rate up (like walking and swimming), activities that build strength (like resistance training), and activities that require coordination and control (like tai chi, yoga, or sports like golf and bowling).

Return-to-play protocols include a step-wise increase in the exercise intensity for athletes and are followed as soon as the athlete has a significant decrease in symptoms such as headaches or dizziness. If the athlete experiences a re-emergence or increase in symptoms during the protocol, he or she must return to an earlier step in the protocol and symptoms must be monitored closely.

Read more about sleep, rest, and exercise Chapter 3 of my book, Shaken Brain.

(Important: if you are recovering from a brain injury, speak to your doctor before beginning any exercise program.)

Limit Screen Time After Concussion

It’s increasingly impossible to make it through the day without looking at a screen. However, studies have shown that by limiting the amount of time spent in front of a TV, computer, or smartphone, people recovering from brain injuries do so more quickly. Dr. Delmonico, in his work as Co-Director of the Youth Sports Concussion Program at Kaiser Permanente Trauma Center, recommends no more than 1-2 hours per day of screen time in the weeks after a concussion. He has seen in his own practice how excessive screen time can exacerbate symptoms and lengthen recovery time

Allowing Time to Heal

Above all, patients should remember that recovery can be a slow and occasionally frustrating process. There may be good days and bad days. Recovery may not happen in a linear fashion, but it will happen.

Learn more about TBI and recovery in my interview with Dr. Richard Delmonico. Don’t forget to watch the entire interview here.