Effects of Neurophysiotherapy Based on Physical Activity on Cognitive and Psychosocial Functioning in Patients with Acquired Brain Injury

TL;DR

This study shows that combining physical activity with neuropsychological rehabilitation can improve cognitive and emotional outcomes in people with brain injuries.

Contribution

The study introduces a multidisciplinary approach combining physical activity and neuropsychological rehabilitation for ABI recovery.

Findings

Physical activity combined with rehabilitation improved working memory and planning in ABI patients.

The intervention enhanced emotional well-being and quality of life in participants.

Depressive symptoms and personal relationships showed positive changes post-intervention.

Abstract

Introduction: Acquired brain injury (ABI) produces significant cognitive, motor, and psychosocial impairments that affect people’s daily functioning. Rehabilitation programs increasingly combine physical activity with neuropsychological strategies for greater effectiveness. Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of neurophysiotherapy based on physical activity and neuropsychological rehabilitation on cognitive and psychosocial functioning in individuals with an acquired brain injury (ABI). Method: A total of 19 individuals between the ages of 24 and 89 years (M ± SD: age = 59.26 ± 19.01) belonging to the Acquired Brain Injury Association of Málaga (ADACEMA) participated in this study. A quasi-experimental design with pre- and post-test measures and multiple experimental groups was used. The instruments used were the digit subtest of the Barcelona Test, the Five Digit Test (FDT), the Tower of Hanoi, the modified six-element subtest of the Behavioural Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome, the Trail Making Test (TMT), the WHOQOL-BREF, and the Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire. The Kruskal–Wallis H, Mann–Whitney U, and Wilcoxon tests were used to analyze the data. Results: The results obtained showed a positive effect of physical activity (PA) combined with neuropsychological rehabilitation on working memory, planning, emotional well-being, personal relationships, depressive symptoms, and overall quality of life. Conclusions: The findings suggest that combining neurophysiotherapeutic physical-activity-based rehabilitation with other neuropsychological interventions may be a promising approach to improving executive functioning, emotional well-being, and quality of life in people with an ABI. These preliminary results highlight the potential value of multidisciplinary programs in post-injury recovery, although further studies with larger and more homogeneous samples are needed to confirm these effects.