Effectiveness of aerobic exercise on cognition in individuals with traumatic brain injury: A systematic review

Abstract

Cognitive deficits are among the most common impairments in individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Aerobic exercise is a repetitive and structured physical activity that influences structural and functional brain alterations differently. This review aims to examine the effects of aerobic exercise on cognition in individuals with TBI. PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, SCOPUS, MEDLINE, and Web of Science were searched from inception to December 20, 2023. Studies designed as randomized controlled trials (RCT), clinical controlled trials (CCT), and pilot studies included individuals with a confirmed diagnosis of TBI, comparing aerobic exercise with passive, active, or no control group and included at least one outcome measure assessing any cognitive domain were selected. The quality of the selected studies was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. Six studies met the eligibility criteria (n = 118), with 53% of participants being female. Four studies were of good quality, fair quality (n = 1), and poor quality (n = 1) on the PEDro. Two of the selected studies showed significant improvements in cognition after moderate and vigorous aerobic exercises, while four studies indicated that moderate and vigorous aerobic exercise did not improve cognition post-TBI. The evidence on the effects of moderate and vigorous aerobic exercise on cognitive function post-TBI remains limited. Additional studies are strongly warranted to understand aerobic exercise’s effects on cognition post-TBI.

Keywords:

• Traumatic brain injury
• aerobic exercise
• cognition
• rehabilitation
• therapy

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Dr. Qusai Janada and Tareq Youssef, assistant professors in the physiotherapy department at Middle East University, for their general supervision in search strategy, data extraction, and methodological quality assessment.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Details of any previous presentation of the research, manuscript, or abstract in any form

None.

Permission

Permissions were approved by Dr. Qusai Janada and Tareq Youssef to include their names in acknowledgments.

Additional information

Funding

The authors have no source of funding or any potential conflicts of interest to disclose.