Predictors of Physical Activity One Year After Moderate to Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can lead to long-term physical and cognitive impairments.
• Maintaining physical activity (PA) is crucial for recovery and overall health after TBI.
• Predictors of sustained physical activity levels post-TBI remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify predictors of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) at 12 months following moderate to severe TBI.
• To examine demographic, clinical, and psychological factors associated with post-TBI physical activity.

Main Methods:

• A prospective longitudinal cohort study was conducted across four inpatient rehabilitation centers.
• 180 participants with moderate to severe TBI were enrolled, with 102 providing valid accelerometer data at 12 months.
• Multivariate regression analyses were used to predict weekly MVPA, incorporating predictors like age, TBI severity, comorbid conditions, and self-efficacy.

Main Results:

• Participants averaged 703 minutes per week of MVPA at 12 months post-TBI.
• Age was the sole significant predictor of MVPA at 12 months (r = -0.52).
• A notable decrease in MVPA was observed in participants over 61 years of age.

Conclusions:

• Older adults with TBI face an increased risk of physical inactivity.
• Targeting older adults for prevention or early intervention programs may enhance health outcomes post-TBI.
• Further research with longer follow-up periods is needed to understand PA trajectories after TBI.