CINCINNATI (WKRC) - If you have a teen recovering from concussion, there may be something simple right on their own phone that could help ease symptoms.
Quite often after teens have a concussion, it's suggested they limit screen time on computers and smartphones to reduce the brain from overstimulation.
While it is important to let the brain heal, a new approach to recovering from concussions that actually encourages teens to use a specific app on their smartphones and a new study shows it may work to help in healing.
Researchers at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center say an app called “Super-Better” is a game that changes the way a patient sees recovery.
The patient is the hero in a personal battle to try and fight off symptoms of concussions such as dizziness and headaches.
Those who avoid screen time often feel isolated and depressed according to teens.
The study wanted to find out if limited exposure to this kind of content could help with some of both the concussion symptoms, and these feelings of depression. The results were very promising.
In teens treated for concussions who didn't use the app, only half reported improved symptoms. The other half said symptoms got worse and there was no improvement in optimism about recovery.
But in teens who did use the app, all of them reported improvements in both symptoms and optimism.
The app also allows friends and family to join the game and follow teens as they recover from their concussions.
The study focused on teens whose symptoms hadn't improved on their own at least three weeks after their injury.
