How exercise can restore brain function after injury
From the Global Burden of Disease 2021 study, it was presented how there was in fact 20.84 million incident cases and 37.93 million prevalent cases of traumatic brain injury (TBI) (Zhong et al 2025). A TBI can be defined as a brain injury caused by outside force that can lead to temporary issues with brain functions, possibly impacting how a person thinks, moves, communicates, comprehends and acts. More serious cases of TBI can result to permanent or severe disability (NIH 2024). There are also a variety of brain injuries, such as concussions, diffuse axonal injury (DAI), hematomas, skull fractures amongst more (NIH 2024), and is typically caused by incidents such as accidents, assaults or falls (Headway N.d.). A plethora of complications arise from these types of brain injuries, which can possibly impact or change a person’s state of consciousness, awareness or responsiveness, including comas, vegetative states, minimally conscious states and brain death. Physical compilations include seizures, hydrocephalus (fluid build-up in the brain), infections, blood vessel damage and vertigo (Mayo Clinic 2021). Physical exercise is a significant rehabilitation process for patients with brain injury as it helps prevent other causational factors of brain injury, such as weight gain, depression, cardiovascular disease, or quitting positive habits they previously enjoyed (NeuLife Rehabilitation N.d.). The following will explore the benefits of exercise for restoring brain functions after injury and the impact it has not only physically but mentally on the individual.
The Science Behind Exercise and Brain Recovery
In many cases it is common for individuals to recover independently, such as when looking at the power of neuroplasticity and the brains’ ability to heal itself after traumatic brain injury. Neuroplasticity is the brains’ ability to adapt as a result of an experience, such as regrowing neural networks after brain injuries (INPA 2023). However, exercise has a significant impact on improving not only an individual’s cognitive state but physical abilities and therefore mental health. The brain has a high metabolic and good circulation demand, and exercise aids this by increases blood flow to the brain. Therefore, delivering nutrients that the brain requires to function, whilst also increasing production molecules which have significant effect on functions such as memories (McGregor 2021). Key neurotransmitters that can be impacted by brain injury include dopamine and serotonin, and the decrease of these two neurochemicals can affect blood flow, mood, movement, cognition, metabolism and more. Exercise can help increase both dopamine and serotonin and aid brain recovery by increasing these neurotransmitters and therefore the different functions aforementioned (Eske 2024).
Best Types of Exercise for Brain Rehabilitation
The best exercises for allowing optimal blood flow to the brain, according to Professor Damian Bailey include repeated squats stands, which help drive flow of blood up and down, hot yoga and aqua aerobics, which uses water pressure to push more blood up to the brain. Also doing an exercise combined with cognitive activity, such as reading or solving a Rubik’s cube whilst on the treadmill and high intensity interval training (HIIT) (Walker 2024). Cardiovascular exercise, such as walking, cycling and swimming, acts as a brain exercise just as much as a body exercise and again aids in improving blood flow. Cardio exercises also activate a molecule named brain- derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which aims to repair brain cells and plays a key role within retrieving memories (Solan 2021).
Mind- Body Exercises: Yoga, Tai Chi, and Meditation for Recovery
Mind and body exercises are significant for a relaxing recovery in increasing circulation and promoting healing and mental well- being. For example, Tai Chi is a great exercise that integrates gentle movements, breathing and mindfulness and performed as a form of moving meditation. The many medical health benefits include relaxation, improved balance, flexibility, coordination and reduced risk of falls, all of which can help the aftermath of brain injuries (Egan 2015). Yoga acts in a similar way, helping with cognitive and emotional recovery through mindful movements, more specifically assisting in reducing pain, stress, depression, markers of inflammation; and bettering grip strength, sleep, mood and general health (Delzell N.d.). Deep breathing and mindful exercises to reduce stress have huge help in directly influencing the nervous system and decreasing blood pressure, ultimately increasing the supply of oxygen to the brain and enhancing concentration abilities during recovery (BetterHealth 2015).
Exercise and Mental Health: Combating Depression and Anxiety Post- Injury
Not only do brain injuries cause physical, sensory and cognitive issues, they also have widely negative effects on mental health. These emotional changes may include depression, anxiety, insomnia, increased anger or frustration and more (Mayo Clinic 2021). Regular exercise, in general, can be seen as a remedy as it is associated with overall better mental health and physical abilities for individuals. For example, Lucy Thurlow, a woman told she would be paralysed for the rest of her life after suffering from a series of epileptic seizures, began working alongside Headway Hertfordshire to regain movement in her legs through exercise. During her recovery, Lucy not only re- learnt how to walk but went on to do this daily and created her own ‘Lucy Marathon’, which consisted of 2.6 miles and raised thousands of pounds for Headway Hertfordshire during this. Lucy’s story is remarkable within this field of recovery and highlights the importance of exercise and the consequence it has on mental health, improving her quality of life and recovering her ability to walk (Headway N.d.).
References
BetterHealth. (2015). Breathing to reduce stress. [Website]. Available at: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/breathing-to-reduce-stress
Delzell, E. (N.d.). Exercises to Engage Mind and Body. Arthritis Foundation. [Website]. Available at: https://www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/healthy-living/physical-activity/yoga/exercises-to-engage-mind-and-body
Egan, M. (2015). Two exercises to heal your mind, body and soul. AllianaHealth. [Website]. Available at: https://www.allinahealth.org/healthysetgo/move/two-exercises-to-heal-your-mind-body-and-soul#:~:text=your%20precious%20energy.-,Tai%20chi,of%20falls%20in%20the%20elderly.
Eske, J. (2024). What are the differences between serotonin and dopamine? [Website]. Available at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326090
Headway. (N.d.) Type of brain injury. [Website]. The brain injury association. Available at: https://www.headway.org.uk/about-brain-injury/individuals/types-of-brain-injury/
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INPA. (2023). The power of Neuroplasticity: How the brain can heal itself after traumatic brain injury. [Website]. Available at: https://in-pa.org.uk/2023/05/the-power-of-neuroplasticity-how-the-brain-can-heal-itself-after-traumatic-brain-injury/
Mayo Clinic. (2021). Traumatic brain injury. [Website]. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/traumatic-brain-injury/symptoms-causes/syc-20378557#complications
McGregor, G. (2021). How exercise affects the brain. [Website]. Available at: https://lifesciences.byu.edu/how-exercise-affects-your-brain#:~:text=Exercise%20feeds%20the%20brain,to%20brain%20function%2C%20including%20memory.
NeuLife Rehabilitation. (N.d). Why Exercise is Important in the Rehabilitation of Brain Injury Patients. [Website]. Available at: https://neuliferehab.com/why-exercise-is-important-in-the-rehabilitation-of-brain-injury-patients/
NIH. (2024). Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. [Website]. Available at: https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/traumatic-brain-injury-tbi#:~:text=Diffuse%20axonal%20injury%20(DAI)%2C,even%20death%20in%20some%20instances.
Solan, M. (2021). Working out your brain. Harvard Health Publishing. Harvard Medical School. [Website]. Available at: https://www.health.harvard.edu/exercise-and-fitness/working-out-your-brain
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