Effect of Regular Aerobic Exercise on Daily Life Activities and Moods of the Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury: Two Cases

Background: Limitations in daily living activities, depression, and anxiety symptoms may be present in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) at different levels based on the severity of the injury. Regular aerobic exercise is a fairly effective treatment approach for the improvement of neuropsychiatric symptoms and physical performances of TBI patients. Cases: Beck Depression Index (BDI), Beck Anxiety Index (BAI), Barthel Index (BI), neuropsychiatric clinical findings, and motor functions were assessed before and after a 30-minute regular exercise program, three times a week for 12 weeks in two severe TBI patients with neuropsychiatric complications due to injuries sustained in motor vehicle accident. Clinical follow-up showed a substantial improvement in depression and daily life activity scales of both patients. Conclusion: Regular aerobic exercise programs are highly effective and inexpensive rehabilitation methods for reducing depression levels and increasing independence in daily life activities of patients with severe TBI.