Benefits of physical exercise programs toward people with acquired brain injury

Abstract

Background: Exercise has proven to be a tool improving health related quality of life in people with acquired brain injury (ABI) as part of multidisciplinary team during the subacute and chronic phase. While intervention studies and revisions have been increased in recent years, there is no consensus about the type, frequency and variables of control in exercise interventions. Besides, this collective need programs that respond to different functional levels, given the heterogeneity of people with ABI, not only because of the etiology, but also because of the severity differences over their deficits. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to summarize the evidence regarding the relationship between exercise and health related quality of life in subacute and chronic phase.Methods: A protocol of systematic review and meta-analysis will examine the benefits of physical exercise (PE) toward people with ABI will be conducted. A comprehensive search will be conducted in the following electronic databases: MEDLINE, The Cochrane Library, CINAHL, SportDiscus, and Web of Science from inception to July 2020. Independent review authors will evaluate the title and abstract for each trial and disagreements will be solved by discussion with a third author if necessary. Standard pairwise metaanalysis, including heterogeneity analysis, subgroup analysis, and sensitivity analysis, will be performed using the Stata software. The quality evaluation of this study will be completed using the Cochrane collaboration risk of bias tool and the risk of bias assessment will be conducted by the World Health Organization grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluation. The review will be reported in accordance to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses statement.Results and Conclussion: This systematic review and meta-analysis protocol will provide an overview regarding the benefits of PE on functioning, social participation and quality of life toward people with ABI. The variability of outcomes across PE from the selected studies will provide important information for future trial designs. Results of the proposed review will inform practice and the design of future clinical trials. This study will summarize all the selected trials aimed at estimating the effectiveness of applying physical activity programs to ABI users.Systematic review registration number: PROSPERO CRD42020191779.Abbreviations: ABI = acquired brain injury, HRQoL = health related quality of life, ICF = International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, PA = physical activity, TBI = traumatic brain injury.

A randomized controlled trial to evaluate the impact of an exercise therapy program based on sports towards people with acquired brain injury: DISCOVER study protocol

“…21,25,26,27 More studies integrating tools such as sport are needed to achieve higher levels of social inclusion in their therapeutic approach. 14,29,30,59 The current designed program provides a more holistic approach that combines exercise therapy and sport-based functional tasks that can be easily integrated into participants' daily life activities. If this program is found to be effective, multidisciplinary teams will have an evidence-based mode of therapy to offer, i.e.…”

“…9,10,11,12 Some systematic reviews point to the effectiveness of exercise therapy intervention programs, and favourable results of physical activity programs in people with ABI, leading to activation of supplementary motor areas, and augment more consistent motor recovery than only standard care. 13,14,15,16,17 Multidisciplinary approaches oriented to exercise therapy and social leisure activities seem to be fundamental to elicit neuroplastic adaptations to enhance physical recovery, 16,18,19,20 and to improve the cognitive and behavioural sequels after ABI. 21,22 Considering the principles of motor learning, the dynamic interaction between systems including the demanding task of a real sport, allowing neuro-plastic adaptations and underlying behavioural improvement for the patients and achieving a motivating functional context.…”

Participatory co-creation of an adapted physical activity program for adults with moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury

“…In addition, based on the long-term or lifelong injury related sequelae that can extend for 10–20 years after moderate-to-severe TBI, PA is particularly relevant as a self-management tool in the chronic period of recovery ( 5 ), as it has been shown that adults with moderate-to-severe TBI can, with minimal guidance, perform vigorous community-based PA ( 6 ). Although best-practices for maintaining community-based PA after moderate-to-severe TBI have yet to be defined ( 7 , 8 ), participatory approaches to developing PA programs (e.g., partnering with stakeholders) are more successful because they are tailored to the unique needs and resources of the target community ( 9 ). Participatory approaches to developing health-related programs after TBI can also lead to additional outcomes based on the collaboration itself, such as increased cultural competency (appropriate communication with people of other cultures), community capacity (social capital), and ownership of the program ( 10 ).…”

Exploring trauma-informed care with the Acquired Brain Injury and Concussion Services program

“…Acquired brain injury (ABI) is an overarching term to describe damage to the brain occurring from traumatic or non-traumatic causes; it is considered a public health condition often resulting in deficits of physical, cognitive, and emotional functions (Calabro et al, 2018;Perez-Rodriguez et al, 2022). ABI can be caused by strokes, infections, toxins, tumors, or accidents (Calabro et al, 2018;Materne et al, 2018).…”