Concussion is a brain injury caused by a knock to the head or a jolt to the body that shakes the brain. It can cause headache, dizziness, confusion and tiredness, and you do not need to be knocked out to have one. Most people recover within two to four weeks with a short period of relative rest followed by a gradual, step-by-step return to daily life and sport.
Also known as concussion, mild traumatic brain injury, post-concussion syndrome, sport-related concussion
Symptoms
- Headache or a feeling of pressure in the head
- Dizziness, balance problems or feeling sick
- Feeling dazed, confused or 'in a fog'
- Sensitivity to light or noise, or blurred vision
- Tiredness, poor sleep, irritability or low mood
- Neck pain, especially after a whiplash-type injury
Causes and risk factors
- A direct blow to the head, face or neck
- A jolt to the body that makes the head move quickly, such as a fall or tackle
- Contact and collision sports, cycling and horse riding
- Previous concussions, which can make further injuries more likely
- Factors linked to slower recovery include poor sleep, migraine history and high early symptom levels
What the evidence says helps
- UK concussion guidelines for grassroots sport advise anyone with a suspected concussion to stop playing straight away ('If in doubt, sit them out') and to get assessed by a healthcare professional or call NHS 111 within 24 hours.1
- The guidelines recommend relative rest for the first 24 to 48 hours, then a staged return to daily activities, study or work, and sport. Full training should not start before day 15 and competition not before day 21, and only once you have been symptom-free at rest for 14 days.1
- A systematic review informing the international consensus found that light physical activity in the first two days and prescribed aerobic exercise from day 2 to day 14 helped people recover faster than strict rest. Reducing screen time in the first 48 hours also helped.23
- For adolescents and adults with dizziness, neck pain or headaches lasting more than 10 days, a systematic review found individualised neck and balance (cervicovestibular) rehabilitation may shorten the time to return to sport.4
- A meta-analysis in adolescents found symptom-limited aerobic exercise programmes improved symptoms after sport-related concussion, though more good-quality research is needed in adults.5
Things you can try at home
- Do not return to sport, PE or training on the day of the injury
- Have someone stay with you for the first 24 hours and avoid alcohol, driving and cycling
- Limit screen time for the first 48 hours and get plenty of sleep
- After a day or two, start gentle walking and daily tasks, easing off if symptoms worsen significantly
- Prioritise a gradual return to school or work before returning to sport
When to get urgent help
Contact your GP urgently, call NHS 111, or call 999 in an emergency if you have:
- Call 999 for any loss of consciousness, increasing drowsiness or worsening confusion
- Call 999 for a seizure, weakness, difficulty speaking, double vision or loss of balance
- Call 999 or go to A&E for a severe or worsening headache, repeated vomiting or severe neck pain
- Go to A&E if you take blood-thinning medicine, have a bleeding disorder or have had brain surgery
- Contact NHS 111 if symptoms get worse or have not improved after 14 days
- See your GP if symptoms last longer than 28 days
How Apollo can help
We do not diagnose or medically manage concussion, so anyone with a suspected concussion should be assessed by a healthcare professional or NHS 111 first. Once medically appropriate, our team can assess the neck and movement, and support a structured, graded return to activity and sport in line with UK guidance. Where symptoms persist or new concerns arise, we will signpost you back to your GP for medical review.
No GP referral needed. Clinics in Sheringham, Coltishall and Norwich.
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
How long should I rest after a concussion?
UK guidance recommends relative rest for the first 24 to 48 hours, then gradually increasing everyday activity. Strict rest for longer than this is not recommended, as light activity appears to help recovery.
When can I return to sport after concussion?
Under UK grassroots guidance, competitive sport should not happen before day 21 after the injury. You should also have been free of symptoms at rest for 14 days and have completed training without symptoms returning.
What if my concussion symptoms do not go away?
Contact NHS 111 if symptoms worsen or have not improved by 14 days, and see your GP if they last more than 28 days. Persistent dizziness, neck pain or headaches may benefit from targeted rehabilitation after medical review.
References
- Sport and Recreation Alliance and UK Government (2023, updated 2024). Concussion Guidelines for Grassroots Sport: If in doubt, sit them out. Sport and Recreation Alliance. View source
- Patricios JS, Schneider KJ, Dvorak J, et al. (2023). Consensus statement on concussion in sport: the 6th International Conference on Concussion in Sport – Amsterdam, October 2022. British Journal of Sports Medicine. View source
- Leddy JJ, Burma JS, Toomey CM, et al. (2023). Rest and exercise early after sport-related concussion: a systematic review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine. View source
- Schneider KJ, Critchley ML, Anderson V, et al. (2023). Targeted interventions and their effect on recovery in children, adolescents and adults who have sustained a sport-related concussion: a systematic review. British Journal of Sports Medicine. View source
- Langevin P, Frémont P, Fait P, Dubé MO, Bertrand-Charette M, Roy JS (2020). Aerobic exercise for sport-related concussion: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. View source
This page is general information, not a diagnosis or a substitute for medical advice. If you are worried about your symptoms, speak to your GP or a registered healthcare professional. Content prepared from the sources above, November 2026.
