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Exercise After Traumatic Brain Injury: Is it a Double‐Edged Sword?
Author(s) -
Griesbach Grace S.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
pmandr
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.617
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1934-1563
pISSN - 1934-1482
DOI - 10.1016/j.pmrj.2011.02.008
Subject(s) - traumatic brain injury , medicine , neuroprotection , physical medicine and rehabilitation , neuroplasticity , neuroscience , neuronal circuits , rehabilitation , physical therapy , psychology , psychiatry
This article describes the effects of exercise on neural plasticity after traumatic brain injury (TBI). There is strong evidence that indicates that exercise has neuroprotective effects by activating specific neuronal circuits and increasing molecules that enhance synaptic plasticity. Findings obtained from experimental models of TBI are discussed to support the use of exercise as a rehabilitative tool. These studies indicate that injury characteristics are likely to influence the time window for therapeutic exercise. Results of human and animal studies suggest that premature postconcussive exercise may be deleterious by exacerbating postconcussive symptomatology and disrupting restorative processes. A better understanding of the mechanisms that influence exercise after TBI will contribute to improving guidelines for the return to exercise activities and to the successful use of exercise as a therapeutic tool.