Concussion x Screen Time: the "Goldilocks Effect"

Recently, I reached out to my social media community to see what questions they had about sports neurology and concussion. One of the most common questions I received was about screen time recommendations after a concussion. It came from all corners: moms and dads, nurses, emergency physicians, and athletic trainers alike. In today’s digital world, where screens are central to school, work, and social life, knowing how to manage screen use after a concussion is more important than ever.

The rationale behind limiting screen time after a concussion is rooted in the idea of reducing the brain's metabolic demand and allowing it to rest and heal. While the research is still evolving, there are a couple of key studies that shed light on this topic:

• Macnow et al. (2021, JAMA Pediatrics) conducted a randomized clinical trial comparing unrestricted vs. limited screen time during the first 48 hours after concussion. They found that unrestricted screen use led to a longer recovery time (around 8 days) compared to limited screen use (around 3.5 days).

  
  

• Cairncross et al. (2022, Pediatrics) followed a group of young people over time and looked at screen use during the first 7–10 days after concussion. Interestingly, they found that both very low (<25th percentile) and very high (>75th percentile) screen time were linked to worse symptoms, while moderate screen use was associated with better outcomes.

Based on this research—and my own clinical experience—it's my opinion that moderate screen use early after a concussion is ideal. It helps lower the cognitive load on the healing brain without leading to complete social isolation from support systems, can be harmful in its own right. In short, after a concussion, it’s not about going completely dark; it’s about finding a healthy balance.

References

Cairncross M, Yeates KO, Tang K, et al. Early Postinjury Screen Time and Concussion Recovery. Pediatrics. 2022;150(5):e2022056835. doi:10.1542/peds.2022-056835

Macnow T, Curran T, Tolliday C, et al. Effect of Screen Time on Recovery From Concussion: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Pediatr. 2021;175(11):1124-1131. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.2782