Effect of Aerobic Exercise Training on Mood in People With Traumatic Brain Injury: A Pilot Study.
Ali A Weinstein, Lisa M K Chin, John Collins and 3 others
PMID 27603762WHAT IT FOUND
In 10 high-functioning adults with chronic traumatic brain injury, 12 weeks of vigorous aerobic exercise was associated with lower overall mood disturbance, especially fatigue.
This small uncontrolled pilot cannot prove exercise works.
Key findings
0110 participants completed the 12-week program. Their total mood disturbance score before exercise was 6.9 points lower at week 12 than at week 1, and 8 of 10 reported less mood disturbance.
02The improvement in total mood disturbance mainly reflected a significant reduction in fatigue-inertia scores (2.5 points), while anger-hostility scores fell by 1.9 points but did not reach significance.
03After a single supervised exercise session, total mood disturbance was lower at week 1, week 4, and week 12.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
Only 10 participants completed and were analysed, so the finding is unstable and may not apply to most people with TBI. There was no control group or delayed entry condition, so natural mood fluctuation cannot be ruled out. Participants had to walk unassisted and tolerate vigorous exercise, and the required attendance likely selected people who were already independent in community living and instrumental activities of daily living. The sample did not have the usual level of negative mood seen in people with TBI, so it does not show what happens in those with clear mood disturbance. The POMS-SF mood questionnaire was not specifically validated in individuals with TBI. The staff who supervised exercise also administered mood assessments, so participants may have responded positively to please staff. The apparent difference for female subjects at week 8 was too small to test reliably and cannot be treated as a gender effect.
Declared interests
The authors report no conflicts of interest. The publication types list NIH intramural and U.S. government non-PHS research support.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that vigorous aerobic exercise has been shown to improve mood in people with traumatic brain injury. This was a small uncontrolled pilot with 10 participants, and it selected adults who could already walk unassisted and tolerate vigorous exercise, so it cannot separate exercise effects from natural mood fluctuation or other factors.