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Can exercise be beneficial after a traumatic brain injury?

Oct 24, 2022

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a form of acquired brain injury usually occurring when a sudden trauma causes damage to the brain. TBI can result when the head suddenly and/or violently hits an object or if an object pierces the skull and damages brain tissue. Symptoms of a TBI can differ drastically depending on the extent of the damage to the brain, they can range from light headaches, dizziness and blurred vision to memory loss, seizures, slurred speech and weakness of the extremities.

 

With such an array of symptoms categorising a TBI it begs the question can exercise benefit those who suffer with such an injury considering it all stems from the brain. A brain injury is quite different from a broken bone or torn muscle, which can be addressed much easier and generally has a much shorter recovery timeframe. With the brain, there are a lot of complicated processes occurring that control our thoughts, emotions, and bodily functions. With traumatic brain injury patients, we must treat the patients physical brain damage but also account for their cognitive/emotional side effects

 

90% of patients have the ability to exercise after a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), but patients are sometimes hesitant to experience a worsening of symptoms. While the fear of worsening symptoms is reasonable for each client, what they may not know is that if patients don’t exercise, it can increase the risk of weight gain, depression, cardiovascular disease, or quitting positive habits they used to enjoy


Studies have demonstrated that there is the potential for exercise to improve cognitive impairment, mood disorders, and post-concussion syndrome following TBI as well as general quality of life depending on the exercises that are prescribed for each patient.

 

An Accredited Exercise Physiologist prescribed exercise programme may have to account for many different symptoms depending on each individual TBI. Appropriate prescription is critical for the management of symptoms, but this allows us to be very creative to individually adapt exercises across multiple modalities of exercise such as balance, strengthening, flexibility, cardiovascular fitness and even cognitive exercises.

 

Strengthening

Strength training helps develop the body’s major muscle groups, thus promoting overall body strength. Additionally, this type of training encourages bone growth, manages weight and stress, and improves posture and balance.

-         Bicep Curl

-         Sit to Stand

-         Seated Exercises

 

Balance

Balance is crucial to maintain for patients recovering from TBI. Balance training helps you improve your body agility, coordination, and muscular strength. Additionally, improving balance reduces your risk of falling.

-         Single Leg Balance

-         Weight Shifts

-         Tandem Walking


Cardiovascular

Cardiovascular exercises are workouts meant to increase the heart rate and respiration, thus strengthening the heart muscles and lung capacity. It also helps raise the oxygen levels in the body, keeping the blood circulation and the body’s systems healthy.

-         Cycling

-         Walking

-         Step Ups

 

Flexibility

Flexibility workouts enhance your range of motion and develop joint strength and muscle abilities. Furthermore, regular flexibility training can help prevent muscle stiffness, ataxia, and spasticity, which are all common problems of TBI patients.

-         Shoulder/Neck Stretching

-         Hamstring/Quadriceps Stretching

-         Lower Back Stretching


Cognitive

Just as you can improve muscle function through rehabilitation exercises, you can improve cognitive function through cognitive exercises.

-         Journal or Creative Writing

-         Puzzles

-         Cognitive Therapy Games


References

- NeuLifeRehab1 (2022) Why exercise is important in the rehabilitation of brain injury patients, NeuLife. Available at: https://neuliferehab.com/why-exercise-is-important-in-the-rehabilitation-of-brain-injury-patients/.

- Traumatic brain injury (no date) National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Available at: https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/traumatic-brain-injury.

- Zhang, Y. et al. (no date) The benefits of exercise for outcome improvement following traumatic brain injury: Evidence, pitfalls and future perspectives, Experimental Neurology.


- Academic Press. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0014488621003666.

- Can exercise help with traumatic brain injury treatment? Brain: UT southwestern medical center (no date) Brain | UT Southwestern Medical Center. Available at: https://utswmed.org/medblog/tbi-exercise/. 


  Kai Baxter

  Workers Compensation Specialist (AEP, ESSAM)

  Exercise Rehabilitation Services – NSW

     

We live in a 3D world, it's time to start training that way!

By Alison Absolute Balance • 24 Apr, 2024
The human body is designed to move in a three-dimensional plane divided into the following segments: Sagittal Plane: Cuts the body into left and right halves. Forward and backward movements. Frontal Plane: Cuts the body into front and back halves. Side to side movements. Transverse Plane: Cuts the body into top and bottom halves. Twisting/rotational movements. Too often we get caught training mostly in a sagittal plane, think running, squats, bicep curls etc. While these are all good exercises, in day-to-day life we don’t only move along a sagittal plane. What happens when you need to quickly get out of the way of the e-scooter flying towards you on the foot path or make a quick sidestep to avoid a pothole – these movements are along the frontal plane. While movements such as turning to check your blind spot while driving or turning to talk to the person next to us are in the transverse plane. When it comes to injury prevention and movement efficiency it is important to incorporate exercises from all planes of movement into training programs. Sagittal If a line ran down the middle of the body splitting it from left to right, movements parallel to this line are within the sagittal plane of movement. The sagittal plane is the most common plane of movement and is trained overwhelming more than the frontal and transverse planes of movement. Movements/exercises considered to be in the sagittal plane include running, squats, deadlifts and bicep curls. Now while all these exercises are good, with the way our lives having evolved into many desk sitting roles, driving from place to place etc, to then go to the gym and focus heavily on movements that are predominantly up – down, and forwards – backwards we can end up reinforcing these pathways and becoming somewhat robotic, heavily limiting our natural movements. Frontal If a line ran down the middle of the body splitting it into front and back, movements parallel to this line would be within the frontal plane of movement – essentially any movement that involves moving away from or towards the midline. Often neglected in strength programs, frontal plane exercises include Cossack squats, lateral lunges, and side raises. Transverse If a line split the body in half separating it into top and bottom with the pelvis being the point of division, any movement parallel to this line would be considered to be in the transverse plane of movement. Movement along/through a transverse plane is generally more rotational such as a Russian twist or trunk twist. By focussing largely on sagittal plane movements, we are risking developing muscle imbalances, limited mobility and uncoordinated movements in the neglected planes. Our body is designed to move on a 3-dimensional plane so make sure to train in a way that will allow it to move the way it’s supposed to. Katie McGrath Injury Prevention Specialist Injury Prevention Services

Stretching and mobility benefits

18 Apr, 2024
Stretching and mobility exercises are indispensable components of both injury prevention and recovery strategies. Incorporating dynamic stretches before physical activity can help prepare the body for movement by increasing blood flow to muscles and enhancing joint flexibility. This dynamic warm-up routine primes the muscles and connective tissues, reducing the risk of injury during subsequent activity. Furthermore, static stretches, performed after physical activity, helps alleviate muscle tension and improve flexibility, thereby minimizing the likelihood of strains and tears. In the realm of injury recovery, stretching and mobility exercises play a crucial role in rehabilitation protocols for individuals recuperating from various musculoskeletal injuries. Following an injury, muscles can become tight and weakened due to disuse or trauma. Gentle stretching exercises aid in maintaining or restoring flexibility, preventing muscle atrophy and contractures. Additionally, targeted mobility exercises assist in restoring range of motion and functional movement patterns, allowing individuals to gradually regain strength and flexibility while reducing the risk of re-injury. Moreover, stretching and mobility exercises promote tissue healing by improving circulation to the injured area. Increased blood flow delivers essential nutrients and oxygen to damaged tissues, facilitating the repair process and reducing inflammation. By incorporating a comprehensive stretching and mobility routine into their regimen, individuals not only safeguard themselves against future injuries but also expedite their recovery journey, enabling them to return to their activities with greater resilience and confidence. Mariah Adolphus Workers Compensation Specialist (AEP, ESSAM) Exercise Rehabilitation Services ‑ WA

Meet a Team Leader at AB

05 Apr, 2024
Hey, my name is Blake, and I am an Exercise Physiologist, Workers Compensation Specialist and Clinical Team Leader at Absolute Balance. I graduated from Edith Cowan University in 2015 after completed my Bachelor of Science (Exercise Science and Rehabilitation). I grew up on a farm Northeast of Perth past Gingin with my parents and two brothers, both of which are back working on the farm, which has been in our family for generations. My love for sport and interest in the human body initially prompted me to complete my Bachelors in Exercise and Sports Science, and my initial thoughts on a career were either Physiotherapy or Phys Ed Teacher. However, this quickly changed when I commenced my first Exercise Physiology unit in my Sports Science degree as it opened my eyes to exercise rehabilitation, and how important it was to individuals with injuries. Having experienced multiple injuries personally playing football (AFL), basketball and tennis, I can fully empathise with how much injuries can impact your life. Being an EP and being in a role where I can make a positive and meaningful impact on individual’s lives who have sustained an injury is extremely important to me. This doesn’t only extend to the patients I see, but also the team members I lead within Absolute Balance. I guide a team of five in the Northeast region at Absolute Balance, assisting them with their own patients and leading them to grow as Exercise Physiologists and individuals. Although it has its challenges, leadership is extremely rewarding and has helped me grow both personally and professionally. Whilst I am not at work, I am spending my time at the gym, at football training and games during February-September (or in the car travelling to and from comes with the gig of country football), spending time with my wife and our dog Otis. I spend the other half of my weekend manicuring my lawn and watching good shows and sports. Blake Cocking Workers Compensation Specialist ‑ Team Leader North East (AEP, ESSAM) Exercise Rehabilitation Services ‑ WA
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