Several studies have shown the danger of concussions, especially to younger brains, but the best possible cure may be to not use it at all.

According to NBC News, a new study shows physical and mental exertion can compound problems caused by concussions. So, when a kid gets a concussion, the best way to get passed it is for the child to do as little thinking or exercising as possible.

After a concussion, kids should refrain from reading, writing, texting, watching TV, playing video games and keep physical activity to a minimum. This is the first study to put data to what many doctors have already been recommending their patients.

Dr. William Meehan, director of the Sports Concussion Clinic at Boston Children's Hospital, told NBC News kids with concussions need to cut back for three to five days, typically.

"Then you can gradually reintroduce them to cognitive activity," he said. "They should do as much as they can without exacerbating their symptoms."

For the study, published Monday in the journal Pediatrics, the researchers tracked 335 patients all from the ages of 8 to 23. Participants' average age was 15 and they all came from Meehan's department. Upon each visit, patients described their symptoms and described their mental activity from total rest to none at all.

While total cognitive rest may not be easily attainable for more than a few days, those who did cut back fully recovered from their concussion within 100 days. The nearly 50 percent of participants who did not cut back still had concussion symptoms after 100 days.

Study lead author Dr. Naomi Brown, a sports medicine physician at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, told HealthDay News the amount of cognitive rest would also depend on the child's age. She included mental rest would not require a total disconnection from the world either.

"We are not recommending complete abstinence from school, especially after the first week," she told HealthDay. "If you go to school for a couple of hours and you are doing OK, then the next day you can go for a little bit more and slowly test it out."