New Recommendations for Return to Activity After Concussion in Military Personnel

A research team established by the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center has proposed new traumatic brain injury evaluation and treatment protocols for military personnel. The proposed system was published in The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation. Previous policies were based heavily on protocols followed for injured athletes, a decision which the researchers have argued against heavily. “Although service members share similarities with athletes, guidance for sports-related concussion is not always relevant to military contexts and does not incorporate the complexities of military demands, decision making under stressful conditions, and multitasking in extreme environments,” said the author. The new recommendations utilized a tiered level of recovery, beginning with a mandatory 24-hour resting period following any concussion featuring mild traumatic brain injury. Following this initial evaluation period, the patient will either return to duty if cleared, or will enter a six-step evaluation process in which they must accomplish progressively complex tasks without inhibited function or pain. Each stage lasts a minimum of 24 hours, and failing to complete a stage red flags the patient for treatment based on their level of function. This focus on realistic tasks and cognitive demands will hopefully reduce performance issues, while ensuring proper treatment is given to injured personnel. To learn more about this study, click here.