Concussion Management for the Physical Therapist Practice Test 2026 - Free Concussion Management Practice Questions and Study Guide

Graded adaptation exercises are advanced only within a small, tolerable window of symptom change. As you progressively increase duration or intensity, you compare the current symptom level to the baseline you established before starting exercise. The safe rule is to keep symptom increases to about 2–3 points on a 0–10 scale above that baseline. Staying within this range helps ensure the brain is coping with the added load and can adapt without triggering a disproportionate flare that could prolong recovery. If symptoms rise more than 2–3 points, back off to the last tolerated level and reassess the next day, adjusting pace, intensity, or mode to maintain that subthreshold response. This approach balances progression with protection, promoting gradual improvement rather than overexertion.