(LOS ANGELES) – A new survey reveals many parents would rely on outdated advice when caring for a child with a concussion, inadvertently making matters worse. The survey, commissioned by UCLA Health, asked 569 parents nationwide what measures they would take if their child’s concussion symptoms lasted for more than a week.
More than 3 in 4 parents (77%) said they would likely wake their child up throughout the night to check on them — something doctors say could prolong concussion symptoms and slow the healing process.
“There is a common misconception that you need to wake children up in order to detect possible swelling of the brain,” said Dr. Christopher Giza, a pediatric neurologist anddirector of the UCLA Steve Tisch BrainSPORT Program. “But if you are still waking your child up a week after their injury, you are making matters worse. Children need their sleep in order for their brains to heal.”
The survey also found 84% of parents would make their kids refrain from any physical activity. But experts say once symptoms like headache and confusion begin to subside, non-contact aerobic exercise can actually speed up the healing process.
“We want them to stay active and safely ease back into a normal routine,” said Giza. “This means not only getting fresh air and exercise, but socializing with their friends.”
More than half of parents in the survey (64%) said they were likely to take phones away from their children while they recover, but Giza says keeping kids isolated and out of their social circles can lead to other problems, like anxiety and depression.
