When can I exercise after a concussion?
Reviewed November 2026 by Online Concussion Clinic, a Perth-based telehealth concussion physiotherapy service. How this site is run
Short answer
Light exercise such as walking or an exercise bike can usually start 24 to 48 hours after a concussion, and it helps recovery. Keep it easy enough to talk comfortably, and stop if symptoms rise by more than 2 points out of 10. Contact sport takes longer, usually at least 21 days.
Why exercise helps
Strict rest until all symptoms are gone isn't recommended any more. The international consensus found that light aerobic exercise, started early and kept below the level that brings on symptoms, speeds up recovery and reduces the chance of lasting symptoms.
How to start
- After the first 24–48 hours, start with walking or an exercise bike at an easy pace.
- Use the talk test: you should be able to hold a conversation.
- Rate your symptoms out of 10 before and after. A small rise is OK. Stop if they rise by more than 2 points, or don't settle within an hour.
- Build up gradually over days — a little longer or a little faster each time.
- Avoid anything with a risk of a head knock, such as contact sport, ball games, riding or climbing.
Back to training and sport
Return to sport follows a graded program, from light exercise to sport drills to contact. In most Australian community sport you need to be symptom-free for 14 days before contact training, and wait at least 21 days before competitive contact — see concussion rules by sport.
If exercise keeps bringing on symptoms, an exercise tolerance test with a concussion physiotherapist can find a safe level to train at.
Call 000 or go to the nearest emergency department if there is:
- Loss of consciousness, or getting drowsier or harder to wake
- A seizure or convulsion
- Severe or worsening headache
- Repeated vomiting
- Neck pain or tenderness
- Double vision or loss of vision
- Weakness, tingling or burning in the arms or legs
- Increasing confusion, agitation, restlessness or unusual behaviour
- A visible deformity of the skull
For children, the emergency department at Perth Children's Hospital (Nedlands) is open 24 hours. If you're unsure, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 (24 hours) for nurse advice.
Find concussion care in Perth
Browse verified concussion providers across Perth — physiotherapists, GPs and neuropsychologists — and use the map to find one close to home. You don't need a referral to see a physiotherapist privately.
Where this information comes from
- Patricios JS, et al. Consensus statement on concussion in sport: the 6th International Conference on Concussion in Sport – Amsterdam, October 2022. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2023;57:695–711. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2023-106898
- Concussion Recognition Tool 6 (CRT6), from the same conference.
- Australian Institute of Sport. Concussion and Brain Health Position Statement 2024, and the Australian Concussion Guidelines for Youth and Community Sport. ausport.gov.au/concussion
This page is general information, not medical advice for your situation. Your own health professional's advice comes first, and your sport or school may have its own concussion rules.