Improved Cardiorespiratory Fitness With Aerobic Exercise Training in Individuals With Traumatic Brain Injury

Objective: To examine cardiorespiratory fitness in individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI), before and following participation in a supervised 12-week aerobic exercise training program. Methods: Ten subjects with nonpenetrating TBI (TBI severity: mild, 50%; moderate, 40%; severe, 10%; time since injury [mean +/- SD]: 6.6 +/- 6.8 years) performed exercise training on a treadmill 3 times a week for 30 minutes at vigorous intensity (70%-80% of heart rate reserve). All subjects completed a cardiopulmonary exercise test, with pulmonary gas exchange measured and a questionnaire related to fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale) at baseline and following exercise training. Results: After training, increases (P <.01) in peak oxygen consumption ((V)over dotO(2); + 3.1 +/- 2.4 mL/min/kg), time to volitional fatigue (+ 1.4 +/- 0.8 minutes), and peak work rate (+ 59 +/- 43 W) were observed. At the anaerobic threshold, (V)over dotO(2) (+ 3.6 +/- 2.1 mL/kg/min), treadmill time (+ 1.8 +/- 1.1 minutes), and work rate (+ 37 +/- 39 W) were higher (P <.01) following exercise training. Subjects also reported significantly lower (P <.05) Fatigue Severity Scale composite scores (-0.9 +/- 1.3) following exercise training. Conclusion: These findings suggest that individuals with TBI may benefit from participation in vigorous aerobic exercise training with improved cardiorespiratory fitness and diminished fatigue.