Why “Resting” After a Concussion Often Makes Symptoms Worse — Kansas City’s Concussion Specialist Explains

Why “Resting” After a Concussion Often Makes Symptoms Worse — Kansas City’s Concussion Specialist Explains

The Old Advice: “Rest and Wait”

For decades, the standard advice after a concussion was to rest completely — both physically and mentally — until all symptoms disappeared. While initial rest is important, especially in the first 24 to 48 hours, recent research shows that prolonged rest can actually delay recovery and worsen symptoms.

Why Too Much Rest Can Make Post-Concussion Symptoms Worse

After a concussion, your brain and nervous system are in a fragile state. Complete inactivity for days or weeks leads to:

• Deconditioning: muscles weaken and cardiovascular fitness drops, making it harder to resume normal activity

• Sympathetic dominance: the autonomic nervous system gets stuck in “fight or flight” mode, increasing symptoms like dizziness, anxiety, and fatigue

• Reduced blood flow and oxygenation to the brain: which impairs healing and prolongs neuroinflammation

• Mood changes: inactivity can worsen depression, anxiety, and cognitive fog

This is especially true for people experiencing dysautonomia or autonomic nervous system imbalance, where too much rest can worsen the imbalance.

What Kansas City Patients Need to Know About Rest and Recovery

Rest is critical in the immediate aftermath of concussion — usually 24 to 48 hours. After that, gradual, controlled activity helps retrain your nervous system, improve blood flow, and reduce symptoms.

How Dr. Lance Stevenson, DC Guides Kansas City Patients to Recover Faster

At our clinic, we provide a carefully monitored plan that balances rest with:

• Gentle graded exercise tailored to your current tolerance

• Breathing exercises and vagus nerve stimulation to reduce sympathetic dominance

• Exercise With Oxygen Therapy (EWOT) to improve brain oxygenation and healing

• Nutritional and supplement support to reduce inflammation and support the brain

This approach helps patients avoid the pitfalls of prolonged rest and speeds recovery.

Ready to Get Back to Life Without Prolonged Rest?

If you’re in Kansas City, Overland Park, Lee’s Summit, or nearby and struggling with symptoms after resting too long, call the concussion specialist who understands the science of recovery.

📞 Call Dr. Lance Stevenson, DC at 816-226-7476 to schedule your free consultation today.

Special thanks to Complete Concussions for their training and educational resources. To learn more about comprehensive concussion treatment options, visit completeconcussions.com.

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