Improving cognitive function after brain injury: the use of exercise and virtual reality.

OBJECTIVE To assess the impact of exercise and virtual reality (VR) on the cognitive rehabilitation of persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI). DESIGN Before-after trial assessed cognitive function after a 4-week intervention program. A random allocation crossover assessed changes in reaction and movement times after a single bout of VR exercise and a no-exercise control condition. SETTING Brain injury rehabilitation unit in Edinburgh, Scotland. PATIENTS (1) Four-week intervention: a consecutive sample of 13 suitable TBI adults were compared to control populations (n > 25) of previous TBI patients of similar age, severity, and time postinjury. (2) Single-bout intervention: a consecutive sample of 13 suitable adults with moderate TBI, 6.29 to 202.86 weeks postinjury. INTERVENTION Nonimmersive VR exercise. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES (1) Tests of attention, information processing, learning, and memory. (2) Reaction and movement times. RESULTS After the 4-week intervention patients performed significantly better than controls on the digit symbol (p < .01). verbal (p < .01), and visual learning tasks (p < .05). Significant improvements in reaction times (p < .01) and movement times (p < .05) were gained following a single bout of VR exercise. CONCLUSION Exercising in a virtual environment offers the potential for significant gains in cognitive function.

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