What the Latest International Concussion Guidelines Say About Recovery and Returning to Sport

Concussion advice has changed a lot in the past decade, and this document is the reason clinics changed with it. Roughly every four years, an international panel of concussion researchers and clinicians meets to review the science and update the consensus that guides team doctors, physiotherapists, athletic trainers, and schools worldwide. This statement summarizes the 6th conference, held in Amsterdam in late 2022, and was built on a set of systematic reviews of the evidence.

One of the clearest shifts is around rest. Older advice to lie in a dark room until symptoms disappear has been replaced. The consensus supports relative rest only for the first day or two, then a gradual return to daily activities and light aerobic activity, guided by symptoms. Research reviewed for the statement suggests that appropriately dosed light exercise can support recovery rather than harm it.

The statement also lays out stepwise return-to-learn and return-to-sport strategies. For children and teens, getting back to school comes before getting back to competition. Each stage of the return process increases demands gradually, and athletes move forward only as symptoms allow, with medical clearance before full-contact play. Updated sideline and office assessment tools, including the SCAT6 and a child version, help clinicians evaluate athletes more consistently.

It is worth knowing that this is a consensus document, not the final word. The authors themselves note areas of genuine scientific debate, including questions about the potential long-term effects of repeated head impacts, where evidence is still evolving. For families, the practical message is straightforward: concussions should be taken seriously, removal from play is essential when one is suspected, and recovery is an active, structured process best supervised by clinicians trained in current concussion care.

Key findings

• This consensus statement was produced by an international expert panel after the 6th International Conference on Concussion in Sport in Amsterdam, informed by a series of systematic reviews.
• Strict, prolonged rest in a dark room is no longer recommended; relative rest for the first 24-48 hours followed by gradual, symptom-guided light activity is encouraged.
• The statement supports structured, stepwise return-to-learn and return-to-sport strategies, with school taking priority for young athletes.
• Updated assessment tools (including SCAT6 and Child SCAT6) were introduced, and light aerobic exercise is recognized as part of treatment for many patients.
• The panel acknowledged ongoing scientific debate in some areas, including questions about long-term effects, and called for continued research.

Clinical relevance

Graded return-to-learn and return-to-sport protocols, symptom-guided exercise, and standardized assessment are exactly the services a multidisciplinary rehab team can deliver, bridging the gap between the emergency room and full competition.

Prepared by the Volt Health team as an educational summary of the cited publication. It is not medical advice; assessment and treatment decisions should always be made with a qualified health professional.