Neurologic benefits of sports and exercise

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with several pathophysiologic changes, including: neurostructural alterations; molecular changes with shifts in circulating neurotrophins; impaired neural metabolism; changes in cerebrovascular autoregulation, vasoreactivity, and neurovascular coupling; and alterations in functional brain connectivity. In animal models of TBI, aerobic exercise reduces neuronal injury, promotes neuronal survival, and enhances the production of neuroprotective trophic factors. However, the timing of exercise initiation is an important consideration as early exercise in the acute postinjury period may impede recovery mechanisms, although evidence for this in humans is lacking. Though human clinical studies are limited, aerobic exercise post-TBI engages cerebrovascular mechanisms and may impart neurophysiologic benefits to mitigate post-TBI pathophysiologic changes. Additionally, subsymptom threshold exercise in humans has been demonstrated to be safe, feasible, and effective in decreasing symptom burden in individuals with mild TBI, and to counteract the detrimental effects of prolonged inactivity, subsequent physical deconditioning, and its negative emotional sequelae. This chapter will explore the potential role of aerobic exercise in neurorecovery after TBI.