Exercise intervention in acquired brain injury rehabilitation: A discussion

Abstract

Physical activity is essential for health and wellbeing. The importance of an active lifestyle is increasingly being recognized in rehabilitation for the benefits to quality of life and the prevention and management of secondary disease resulting from disability. However, there is a paucity of published evidence for lifestyle exercise intervention in acquired traumatic brain injury. Most studies evaluate the impact of specific physical rehabilitation therapies or exercise intervention with physical fitness or body composition as outcomes. Few studies also consider the psychosocial benefits of exercise. This article presents the literature in this field together with future directions for intervention. Further research is needed which investigates the impact of exercise intervention on health and wellbeing of brain injured individuals and their families.

Efficacy of leisure intervention groups in rehabilitation of people with an acquired brain injury

“…The importance of an active lifestyle following an ABI is increasingly being recognised for its benefits to QOL and the prevention and management of secondary health conditions resulting from a sedentary lifestyle (Blake & Batson, 2008). Reasons why people are less physically active following an ABI or TBI can include physical, cognitive and psychological variables, along with environmental and societal barriers (Hasset & Moseley, 2009).…”

“…Studies show the physical, cognitive and social importance of high quality, stimulating leisure activities in preventing degenerative diseases (Fratiglioni, PaillardBorg, & Winblad, 2004) and the prevention and management of secondary health conditions resulting from a sedentary lifestyle (Blake & Batson, 2008). Post-acute rehabilitation programs for people with an ABI are relatively new and unexplored in terms of availability of recreational services and the therapeutic recreational methods presently employed in those settings (Fazio & Fralish, 1988).…”

“…The importance of an active lifestyle following an ABI is increasingly being recognised for its benefits to QOL and the prevention and management of secondary health conditions resulting from a sedentary lifestyle (Blake & Batson, 2008). Leisure also assists people in overcoming difficulties, possibly by buffering the effects of stress (Iwasaki, Zuzanek, & Mannell, 2001) and in adults with ABI has been shown to increase self-confidence and promote feelings of well-being (Prvu, Navar, Yaffe, & Hagar, 1999).…”

Exercise intervention in brain injury: a pilot randomized study of Tai Chi Qigong

“…3,4 Physical activity is particularly important for individuals with traumatic brain injury since they have been shown to be more deconditioned when compared with non-disabled sedentary individuals 5 and may thus be at even greater risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other preventable diseases although this is yet to be determined in longitudinal studies. 5 Exercise interventions in brain injury are steadily emerging 6 and a recent Cochrane review identified a small number of randomized trials reporting mixed outcomes of cardiorespiratory fitness training. 7 Aerobic studies are often in hospital or rehabilitation inpatient settings, [8][9][10] focused on moderate to severe injury 10 or lacking randomization of participants.…”

Determinants of physical activity participation following traumatic brain injury

“…Exercise interventions for brain-injured individuals are on the increase (Blake and Batson, 2008). In particular, community-based physical activity interventions for people with brain injuries have been promoted and include aerobic interventions (Bateman et al, 2001;Jackson et al, 2001;Hassett et al, 2008), aquatic programmes (Driver et al, 2004;Driver et al, 2006), and mindful exercise such as Tai Chi/Qigong (Blake and Batson, 2009).…”