Hi. How long after a hard concussion can i activate and train my brain? Or is rest..

temporary · 09-13-2017, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho

The experts do not recommend rest. They recommend normal sleep at normal times. The research studies show that rest after 48 hours is detrimental to recovery.

It was long thought that rest was always good until they did the research. I heard about the study from an expert who gave a presentation at our local neuro rehab hospital. She explained all the latest research about sleep and rest after head injury. The injured brain needs good blood flow to improve. Rest or even naps that are not full stage sleep just leave the brain clogged with toxins.

You appear to mix up many different concepts. Activity is good and important to the point below symptoms. Conditioning exercises to build cardiovascular or muscle condition is not recommended until all symptoms are recovered. The difference is intensity and whether you push to muscle break down. Muscle break down causes blood chemistry that is not conducive to the brain continuing to heal. Again, toxins in the blood.

But, sounds like you have your own ideas about recovery.

I don't row fast. I do 22 to 24 strokes per minute at a 200 meters per minute pace. It is refreshing and leaves my legs a bit wobbly for the first few steps. I get people who will sit down next to me and whip out 34 strokes per minute for 5 minutes. One guy can do 34 strokes per minute for 10 minutes. But, he is about 5'4" and built like a fire plug.

Hi again Mark. I thought about the study you read or knew about. About rest and 48 hours and all you wrote about. ( detrimental to recovery after 48 hours made me skeptical, because i need proof in life..) I became curious and want to read the scientific study on what you wrote. Can you link it on here?
Or website, etc. But the study or research in pdf would be cool. I like science. But new to this with concussions, etc.
Thanks. Peace out

Mark in Idaho · 09-13-2017, 02:50 AM

I learned this from a neuro rehab sleep specialist when she presented at our local neuro rehab hospital. She had just attended a nation rehab and sleep conference and learned the latest.

Many studies show the first 24 to 48 hours are much different than after 48 hours. There are many therapies that work in those first 2 days that do not help after.

The key issue is good blood flow in the brain and good glymph drainage. Activity causes blood flow. Proper slow wave sleep causes glymph system drainage. Sleep that does not include REM and slow wave sleep has minimal value as it just lets toxins collect. Daytime sleep is shown to reduce the proper stages of sleep at night. Daytime sleep does not usually include the cycle of sleep stages. The stages are based on sleep within the circadian rhythm sleep pattern that happens at night.

Some of the information about brain function during different stages and types of sleep was not discovered until 2012-2013 when they were able to image the sleeping brain with the detail needed.

temporary · 09-13-2017, 08:48 AM

Alright. Thanks for the reply.
(I'm also changing my sleep pattern atm, so i will sleep at night instead like i usually do.

I like to sleep at night, but have been a night owl. But enough is enough, so i'm going to sleep during the night and try to stay a bit active in the days to come later on. Like going for walks during the day or try the gym easy the first time.
And the sleep quality is best at night also, i agree. I will just try to follow the day and night naturally as i want to do. Peace out)

Mark in Idaho · 09-13-2017, 11:31 AM

The issue with sleep quality has to do with the brain's sleep rhythm. The science shows you cannot change the brain's sleep rhythm whether you are a natural early bird or a night owl. It has nothing to do with how you feel. It is about how the brain behaves during sleep. They see a range of rhythm for early risers (4 to 6 am) to late risers (8 to 9 am). The wake up time governs the go to sleep time. The later risers should be sleeping by 12 midnight for proper brain sleep. It is based on how the brain recognizes the light of day.

temporary · 09-14-2017, 05:15 AM

Hi. Yes, i fully agree. I stayed up all night yesterday and all day and slept at night when it got dark. And i slept awesome. (Deep.) I needed to stay awake a while to manage the day and night, but i fell asleep/crashed when it went dark and woke up when it was bright today, and it feels so much better.
I usually sleep during the night and get up at the day, but i can sometimes oversleep and i use a sleeping mask also. Eventually i oversleep,(little longer each day.) but now i will have a good rhythm for a while. Anyways, i got a deeper quality of sleep, but will keep this rhythm forward on and it feels better.
I will try to just follow the sun and the moon.

Sleep when it's getting dark, wake up when it's light. Feels much better. (I could quit using a sleeping eye mask later on, and that helps to have the sleep more natural later on so i don't switch it over time.)
Take care. peace out

Mark in Idaho · 09-14-2017, 10:30 AM

I should have mentioned she taught us about the difference between feeling tired and feeling sleepy. Sleepy is a brain issue that controls the sleep rhythm. Tired is more of a physical or mental exhaustion. Increasing blood flow with activity can resolve tiredness. Daytime sleeping is usually in response to feeling tired but does not resolve a feeling of sleepy. Nightime sleeping is usually in response to being sleepy.

It sounds like your body is responding positively to you taking care of feeling sleepy.

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