Brain Injury: Physical Activity Following a Brain Injury Download PDF, 1.22MB, PDF Physical Activity Not exercising may lead to the loss of muscle strength and endurance. The damaged areas of your brain may further worsen and take a longer time to recover.Benefits of Physical Activity After Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Improves Physical Abilities: Fitness, muscle strength, energy level, balance and mobility Improves Cognitive Functions:Learning ability, speed of thinking and problem-solving ability Improves Psychosocial Well-being:Mood, self-esteem and social participationDos and Don’ts of Exercising After TBI DosGet your doctor’s approval to start exercising and continue taking all your medicationsStart with short periods of exercise and gradually increase the durationPace yourselfIf you feel that you may have overexerted yourself, rest for a short period. Resume exercise just below the threshold (when you start to feel overexerted) the next time and for a shorter period Dont'sDo not do anything that will put you at risk of another concussionAvoid activities that cause your head or body to jerk, such as contact sports, running and jumping Important to note:Consult your doctor or healthcare professional if you experience dizziness, chest pain, breathlessness, or feel unwell during exercise and if it does not resolve with rest.Examples of Physical Activity Cardiovascular 150 mins of moderate-intensity cardiovascular activity per week (E.g. Walking, jogging, swimming, cycling, dancing) Strength Two sessions of moderate or high intensity strength training per week (E.g. Squats, lunges, resistance bands, machines, free weights)Balance Two sessions of balance training per week (E.g. Standing on one foot, tandem stance, tandem walking, standing on an unstable surface) Flexibility At least three to four times of flexibility training per week (E.g. Stretching, Tai Chi, Yoga)Simple daily activities such as doing housework, walking your pet, taking the stairs (instead of the lift) all count as exercise!
