The outcomes of a recent meta-analysis have suggested a potential shift in the conventional approach to youth concussion (mild traumatic brain injury) recovery by emphasizing the benefits of early engagement in physical and social activities. Traditionally, rest was often prescribed to prevent adverse outcomes; however, the emerging trend of early return to physical and social activity is showing promise in improving the recovery trajectory for young individuals who have suffered concussions.

Hence, this study, which encompassed both randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs, aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of activity-based interventions on outcomes (symptoms, quality of life, and revert to preinjury activity levels) in youth and children post-concussion. Extraction of data was carried out independently by three investigators, encompassing information on sample size, year of publication and country, volunteer demographics, study setting and design, intervention details, outcomes, and the conclusion of authors. Additionally, a meta-analysis was conducted specifically on relevant RCTs.

A total of 24 studies, including 10 RCTs, were encompassed in the final review. The results revealed a significant positive effect of activity interventions on symptom reporting, with a standardized mean difference of 0.39 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.15 to 0.63; I2, 0%). This suggests that engaging in early physical and social activities may contribute to a notable improvement in concussion symptoms. However, the study did not find a significant effect of activity-based interventions on quality of life, with a mean difference of -0.91 (95% CI, -7.76 to 5.94; I2, 0%).

The researchers pointed out the need for further exploration in this area due to potential limitations and the lack of conclusive evidence. Interestingly, no meta-analysis was carried out on the return to preinjury activity levels due to an inadequate number of RCTs performed in this specific domain.

Despite the promising results regarding symptom improvement, the study highlighted some limitations. One outcome was removed from the meta-analysis, and interventions focusing on social activity were found to be inadequate in the current body of research.

In conclusion, this research suggests that activity-based interventions, particularly those emphasizing early return to physical activities, may considerably rectify symptoms of concussion in youth. Additional examination is required to gain a comprehensive understanding of the impact on life quality and revert to preinjury activity levels.