Effect of cardiovascular exercise on postural stability and cognition in mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Conference Year
January 2020
Abstract
Problem Statement/Purpose:
Dizziness, postural instability and cognitive deficits are common symptoms that present after sustaining an mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI). These symptoms can impair a person’s ability to function properly at school, work, and home environments. Little research has been done to examine the effects of acute cardiovascular exercise on these symptoms. Knowing the effect of the severity of cardiovascular exercise on standing balance and cognition in those who have suffered an mTBI can help better determine treatment, exercise regimens, and cognitive tasks for highly physically and cognitively active populations such as student athletes. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to determine the effect of various levels of cardiovascular exercise on standing postural stability and cognitive function in individuals with mTBI.
Methods:
Standing balance and cognition were assessed at baseline, and after three levels of cardiovascular exercise using the YMCA protocol on a stationary bike. A standardized force platform was used to quantify various parameters of postural sway during two conditions: bipedal-eyes open, and bipedal-eyes closed. Cognition domains of attention, executive function and processing speed were assessed using NIH toolbox - cognition battery.
Results/Conclusions:
Cardiovascular exercise resulted in improvement of cognitive function. Postural stability deteriorated when eyes were closed when compared to eyes open conditions. After cardiovascular exercise postural stability improved in eyes closed conditions, whereas in the eyes open condition postural stability worsened.
Primary Faculty Mentor Name
Sambit Mohapatra
Status
Undergraduate
Student College
College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Program/Major
Exercise Science
Primary Research Category
Health Sciences
Effect of cardiovascular exercise on postural stability and cognition in mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Problem Statement/Purpose:
Dizziness, postural instability and cognitive deficits are common symptoms that present after sustaining an mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI). These symptoms can impair a person’s ability to function properly at school, work, and home environments. Little research has been done to examine the effects of acute cardiovascular exercise on these symptoms. Knowing the effect of the severity of cardiovascular exercise on standing balance and cognition in those who have suffered an mTBI can help better determine treatment, exercise regimens, and cognitive tasks for highly physically and cognitively active populations such as student athletes. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to determine the effect of various levels of cardiovascular exercise on standing postural stability and cognitive function in individuals with mTBI.
Methods:
Standing balance and cognition were assessed at baseline, and after three levels of cardiovascular exercise using the YMCA protocol on a stationary bike. A standardized force platform was used to quantify various parameters of postural sway during two conditions: bipedal-eyes open, and bipedal-eyes closed. Cognition domains of attention, executive function and processing speed were assessed using NIH toolbox - cognition battery.
Results/Conclusions:
Cardiovascular exercise resulted in improvement of cognitive function. Postural stability deteriorated when eyes were closed when compared to eyes open conditions. After cardiovascular exercise postural stability improved in eyes closed conditions, whereas in the eyes open condition postural stability worsened.