Not BS - surely?

It's often the way that, after a short illness (for example), picking up an instrument again blows away some of the automatic cobwebs that we place there without thinking. So - yes - a break here and there, interspersed with periods of hard practising, can be beneficial.

As for longer-term illness, my sympathies for those whose music has suffered, and positive thoughts for improvement. Take it steady and try not to be impatient and frustrated. :-)