At a glance

• Have a responsible adult monitor you as advised after the injury.
• Use relative rest initially, then increase mental and physical activity gradually.
• Do not return to contact sport or risky activity until medically cleared.

Early recovery

• Reduce demanding activity and screen use if they clearly worsen symptoms, without prolonged complete isolation or bed rest.
• Use only medicines approved for you after the injury and avoid alcohol and recreational drugs.
• Do not drive, cycle, operate machinery or work at heights while attention, vision, balance or reaction time is affected.
• Maintain regular sleep, fluids and meals as tolerated.

Use a staged return

• Increase activity in stages, allowing symptoms to settle before progressing further.
• Temporary adjustments to school, study or work may include shorter periods, rest breaks and reduced cognitive load.
• Return-to-sport progression should follow current guidance and your clinician's clearance, particularly for children and adolescents.

When to book a GP review

• Headache, vomiting, confusion, behaviour or balance is worsening.
• There is increasing drowsiness, new visual disturbance, weakness, numbness or speech difficulty.
• Symptoms are not following the recovery course discussed with your clinician.

Follow-up

• Attend the recommended review even if symptoms are improving when clearance is needed for sport, work or driving.
• Arrange further review if symptoms persist, worsen with each activity increase or affect mood, sleep, study or work.
• A physiotherapist or other clinician may assist with persistent balance, neck, vision or exercise-related symptoms.

Emergency advice

Call 000 for loss of consciousness, seizure, inability to wake normally, repeated vomiting, worsening severe headache, increasing confusion or agitation, weakness or numbness, unequal pupils, fluid or blood from the ear or nose, or another rapid deterioration.

Rochedale Family Practice is not an emergency service.