Teenagers recovering from a concussion could experience a more rapid recovery by engaging with screens for over two hours a day, a new study suggests.
Clocking up an average of 141 minutes daily on smartphones, gaming, watching television, or using computers was linked to symptoms easing 35 per cent faster.
A concussion is a type of brain injury that occurs after a bump to the head. Symptoms such as feeling sick, headaches, and confusion can take up to two days to manifest.
This finding challenges previous limited studies, primarily from researchers in Canada and the US, which had indicated that avoiding screens for the initial 48 hours post-concussion might accelerate recovery.
To explore this area further, experts analysed data from 80 concussed adolescents aged between 11 and 17.
Patients were monitored until their symptoms ended, or for up to 45 days, whichever came first.
The study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, focused on smartphone use, watching TV, using computers or tablets, and gaming.
During the first week after injury, screen time averaged at 358.4 minutes a day – almost six hours – with smartphone use being most common.
Researchers suggest that an average of 141 minutes of screen time day in the first three days after concussion was linked to a 35% faster recovery than an average of 260 minutes.
Further analysis found symptoms disappeared in patients spending between 120 and 140 minutes a day on screens than those spending less than 120 minutes or more than 240 minutes a day.
Recovery was more than twice as fast among those clocking up screen time of between 120 and 140 minutes compared to those spending less than 120 minutes a day on screens, and 1.5 times as fast as those on screens for more than 240 minutes.
When broken down by screen type, daily smartphone use for 120 to 240 minutes daily helped symptoms clear twice as fast.
Symptoms also resolved three times as fast among those watching TV for an hour to two hours a day compared to those watching it for more than two hours.
Researchers said: “Research on optimal screen time during concussion recovery is limited by inconsistent definitions, measurement tools and data collection methods.
“Screen time is often treated as a single category, despite varying physiological effects across activities.”
They added: “Rather than complete avoidance, clinicians may consider recommending this balanced level of use to support concussion recovery.”
