A Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Impact of an Exercise Therapy Program Based on Sports in People with Acquired Brain Injury: Discover Study Protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Acquired brain injury (ABI) constitutes a significant and growing global public health concern. People with ABI often face a range of physical and psychosocial challenges that span the domains of "body structure and function", "activity", and "participation", as defined by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health. Multidisciplinary approaches based on exercise therapy with social leisure activities are essential to improve physical recovery and health-related quality of life after injury. METHODS: Adults with ABI, aged > 18 years, in the subacute or chronic stage (within more than one month after the injury) will be recruited through a rehabilitation center. Adults will be randomized to receive either a racket sports-based exercise therapy program combined with usual care (sET) or usual care alone (UC) using a random number sequence with a 1:1 allocation ratio. sET intervention consists of an 8-week exercise therapy program focusing on different racket sports skills, 1 h in duration, 2 days/week. It will be delivered by a physiotherapist in tailored, face-to-face, group-based sessions. Primary outcomes will be the health-related quality of life (SF-36) and upper extremity motor function (Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity Scale). DISCUSSION: The study proposes an intervention that combines sports-based exercise therapy with usual care. It aims to determine whether this intervention improves the health-related quality of life and upper limb motor function in adults with ABI compared with usual care alone. The results of this study may have clinical implications for the rehabilitation of this population.

Physical Activity and Sport for Acquired Brain Injury (PASABI): A Non-Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background and objectives: Acquired brain injury (ABI) is the first cause of disability and physical activity (PA) is a key element in functional recovery and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) during the subacute and chronic phases. However, it is necessary to develop PA programs that respond to the heterogeneity and needs of this population. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a PA program on the HRQoL in this population. Materials and Methods: With regard to recruitment, after baseline evaluations, participants were assigned to either the intervention group (IG, n = 38) or the control group (CG, n = 35). Functional capacity, mood, quality of life and depression were measured pre- and post-intervention. The IG underwent the "Physical Activity and Sport for Acquired Brain Injury" (PASABI) program, which was designed to improve HRQoL (1-h sessions, two to four sessions/week for 18 weeks). The CG underwent a standard rehabilitation program without PA. Results: Results for the IG indicated significant differences and large effect sizes for the physical and mental dimensions of quality of life, as well as mood and functional capacity, indicating an increase in HRQoL. No significant differences were found for the CG across any variables. Conclusions: The PASABI program was feasible and beneficial for improving physiological and functionality variables in the IG. The wide range of the activities of the PASABI program allow its application to a large number of people with ABI, promoting health through PA, especially in the chronic phase.

[Analysis of the effect of physical group activities in patients with acquired brain injury in the subacute phase]. / Analisis del efecto de las actividades fisicas grupales en pacientes con daño cerebral adquirido en fase subaguda.

INTRODUCTION: The term acquired brain injury (ABI) refers to any kind of non-degenerative injury that occurs in the brain. Group physical activities (GPA) are an effective treatment that improves the functional capacity. AIMS: To analyse the efficacy of a GPA programme in persons with ABI in the subacute phase so that they can be re-integrated physically in the community. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-three patients with ABI, aged 33.18 ± 10.39 years, took part in a 10-week GPA programme (circuit workshops, simple equilibrium, dual equilibrium, dual displacement and physical-sports activities). At the start and the end of the programme the following variables were evaluated: speed (10-metre walking speed test), resistance (six-minute walk test), dynamic balance (Step Test), functional capacity (Timed Up and Go), safety perception scale (Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale) and Physical Activity and Disability Survey (PADS), the average per hour intensity of the activity and the number of steps outside the rehabilitation centre (using physical activity monitors). The t test for related samples was used to evaluate the differences among the variables. RESULTS: Significant differences were found (p <= 0.05) in the variables speed, resistance, balance, functional capacity, perception of safety, perception of general activity performance (question 3 of the PADS) and number of steps. CONCLUSIONS: GPA programmes improve physical capacities, perception of safety, performance of activity in general and the number of steps, which can lead to greater participation in the community.

TITLE: Analisis del efecto de las actividades fisicas grupales en pacientes con daño cerebral adquirido en fase subaguda.Introduccion. El daño cerebral adquirido (DCA) hace referencia a cualquier tipo de lesion no degenerativa que se produce en el cerebro. Las actividades fisicas grupales (AFG) se presentan como un tratamiento efectivo para la mejora de la capacidad funcional. Objetivo. Analizar la eficacia de un programa de AFG en personas con DCA en fase subaguda para su integracion fisica en la comunidad. Pacientes y metodos. Treinta y tres pacientes con DCA, con una edad de 33,18 ± 10,39 años, participaron en un programa de AFG (talleres de circuito, equilibrio simple, equilibrio dual, desplazamiento dual y actividades fisico-deportivas) de 10 semanas. Al comenzar y concluir el programa se evaluaron las variables de velocidad (prueba de velocidad de la marcha en 10 metros), resistencia (prueba de marcha de seis minutos), equilibrio dinamico (Step Test), capacidad funcional (Timed Up and Go), escala de percepcion de seguridad (Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale) y Physical Activity and Disability Survey (PADS), el promedio por hora de la intensidad de la actividad y el numero de pasos fuera del centro de rehabilitacion (usando monitores de actividad fisica). La prueba t para muestras relacionadas se utilizo para evaluar las diferencias en las variables. Resultados. Se hallaron diferencias significativas (p <= 0,05) en las variables de velocidad, resistencia, equilibrio, capacidad funcional, percepcion de seguridad, percepcion de realizacion de actividad general (pregunta 3 del PADS) y numero de pasos. Conclusion. Los programas de AFG mejoran las capacidades fisicas, percepcion de seguridad, realizacion de actividad en general y numero de pasos, lo que puede conllevar una mayor participacion en la comunidad.

Análisis del efecto de las actividades físicas grupales en pacientes con daño cerebral adquirido en fase subaguda / Analysis of the effect of physical group activities in patients with acquired brain injury in the subacute phase

Introducción. El daño cerebral adquirido (DCA) hace referencia a cualquier tipo de lesión no degenerativa que se produce en el cerebro. Las actividades físicas grupales (AFG) se presentan como un tratamiento efectivo para la mejora de la capacidad funcional. Objetivo. Analizar la eficacia de un programa de AFG en personas con DCA en fase subaguda para su integración física en la comunidad. Pacientes y métodos. Treinta y tres pacientes con DCA, con una edad de 33,18 ± 10,39 años, participaron en un programa de AFG (talleres de circuito, equilibrio simple, equilibrio dual, desplazamiento dual y actividades físico-deportivas) de 10 semanas. Al comenzar y concluir el programa se evaluaron las variables de velocidad (prueba de velocidad de la marcha en 10 metros), resistencia (prueba de marcha de seis minutos), equilibrio dinámico (Step Test), capacidad funcional (Timed Up & Go), escala de percepción de seguridad (Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale) y Physical Activity and Disability Survey (PADS), el promedio por hora de la intensidad de la actividad y el número de pasos fuera del centro de rehabilitación (usando monitores de actividad física). La prueba t para muestras relacionadas se utilizó para evaluar las diferencias en las variables. Resultados. Se hallaron diferencias significativas (p ≤ 0,05) en las variables de velocidad, resistencia, equilibrio, capacidad funcional, percepción de seguridad, percepción de realización de actividad general (pregunta 3 del PADS) y número de pasos. Conclusión. Los programas de AFG mejoran las capacidades físicas, percepción de seguridad, realización de actividad en general y número de pasos, lo que puede conllevar una mayor participación en la comunidad (AU)

Introduction. The term acquired brain injury (ABI) refers to any kind of non-degenerative injury that occurs in the brain. Group physical activities (GPA) are an effective treatment that improves the functional capacity. Aims. To analyse the efficacy of a GPA programme in persons with ABI in the subacute phase so that they can be reintegrated physically in the community.Patients and methods. Thirty-three patients with ABI, aged 33.18 ± 10.39 years, took part in a 10-week GPA programme (circuit workshops, simple equilibrium, dual equilibrium, dual displacement and physical-sports activities). At the start and the end of the programme the following variables were evaluated: speed (10-metre walking speed test), resistance (sixminute walk test), dynamic balance (Step Test), functional capacity (Timed Up & Go), safety perception scale (Activitiesspecific Balance Confidence Scale) and Physical Activity and Disability Survey (PADS), the average per hour intensity of the ctivity and the number of steps outside the rehabilitation centre (using physical activity monitors). The t test for related samples was used to evaluate the differences among the variables. Results. Significant differences were found (p ≤ 0.05) in the variables speed, resistance, balance, functional capacity, perception of safety, perception of general activity performance (question 3 of the PADS) and number of steps. Conclusions. GPA programmes improve physical capacities, perception of safety, performance of activity in general and the number of steps, which can lead to greater participation in the community (AU)