Concussions Aren’t Over Until They’re Over

How long does it take for symptoms of a concussion to go away? If you said 24 to 72 hours, you’re right, sometimes. But not all the time, and not all symptoms. Researchers at the University of Kentucky have found that the effects of a concussion can actually increase up to ten days after getting bonked on the head. A U of Kentucky news release reports that researchers used motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) — an electrophysiological measurement that can detect changes in brain function — to see how long the damage lasted. The MEPs, which measure the response time of muscles to electric impulses in the brain, showed delays in response time continued up to day 10, actually increasing while other symptoms like headache and confusion subsided. The university now gathers baseline MEP data for all athletes participating in contact sports, giving trainers and coaches more information for that all-important decision after concussion: play or sit out. Read more from the University of Kentucky.