How long does concussion recovery usually take?

The guideline says most athletes who have a concussion in sport make a complete recovery, and return to full school without concussion-related accommodations and full sport without restrictions, within four weeks of injury. Approximately 15 to 30 per cent of people have symptoms that last longer.

• Symptoms lasting longer than four weeks are called persisting symptoms. The athlete may benefit from referral to specialized interdisciplinary concussion care.
• Parachute's Return-to-Sport Strategy handout says each step takes a minimum of 24 hours but could take longer, that people progress at different rates, and that someone who has had a concussion before may take longer to heal the next time.
• If symptoms last longer than four weeks, the handout says the doctor should consider referring the athlete to a licensed healthcare professional who is an expert in concussion management.

Sources: https://parachute.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Concussion-Guideline-2024.pdf and https://parachute.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Return-to-Sport-Strategy.pdf