Pacing Yourself After a Concussion

After a concussion, the brain experiences a series of chemical and energy-related changes that temporarily disrupt normal brain function.

This causes an energy crisis – making it harder to think, focus, and process information. 

What this looks like:

• schoolwork is more draining

• social interactions take more energy

• screens and noise can feel overwhelming

• fatigue hits faster and harder

That's why managing your energy is more important than ever.

🧠 A Helpful Guideline: The "2-Point" Rule

To promote gradual recovery and prevent setbacks, we use the 2-Point Rule when reintroducing physical and cognitive activities. 

Here's what it looks like:

1. Take a baseline of symptoms on a 0-10 pt scale (0=no symptoms, 10=worst symptoms)

2. Start an activity

3. Monitor symptoms

4. STOP if the symptoms exceed more than 2 pts from the baseline

5. Allow your child to settle before resuming

If your child’s symptoms increase by more than 2 points (on a 0–10 scale) and stay elevated for more than an hour…

…it’s a sign they may need to pull back temporarily.

💛 What Pacing Looks Like in Real Life

Even simple choices can make a huge difference in recovery and help your child feel more confident and steady as they get back to school and daily life.

Here are a few examples of healthy pacing during recovery:

✔️ Take breaks before symptoms spike

✔️ Break schoolwork into small chunks

✔️ Return to school gradually

✔️ Build up social time slowly

✔️ Add academic demands step by step

✔️ Prioritize sleep, hydration, nutrition, and gentle movement

Learning Energy Management Strategies is a key component of Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy to support students recovering from concussion.

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Jenny Traver, MS, CCC-SLP, CBIS

Curious about energy management following a concussion? Reach out to Jenny at jenny@cognitiveslp.com to learn more about cognitive therapy and if it could be helpful in your concussion recovery journey.