research
Exercise aids
recovery
E
xercise is an
important part
of recovery for
people with brain injury,
University of Queensland
researchers have found.
A review from the
University’s School of Health
Mackay said the review
discovered that exercise could
positively affect BDNR in
people with brain conditions.
“Increasing BDNR may
contribute to the ability of
brain cells to grow, change and
rejuvenate, and a program of
aerobic exercise may increase
levels of BDNF in people with a
neurological disorder,”
Mr Mackay said.
and Rehabilitation Sciences
“People who have had
uncovered the benefit of brain injuries have potential to
exercise on a protein involved harness neuroplasticity – the
in brain reorganisation ability of the brain cells to
and relearning following grow, change and rejuvenate –
a neurological disorder, to help their recovery of motor
such as after a stroke. Brain performance.”
derived neurotrophic factor
He said including regular
(BDNF) proteins, found in the aerobic exercise as a
peripheral and central nervous component of rehabilitation
systems, play an important may lead to improvements in
role in brain development, walking, functional ability and
plasticity and survival. improved motor performance.
PhD candidate Christopher
evidence that rehabilitation makes
www.uq.edu.au
Christopher Mackay walking
with a research participant.
A leading policy expert from
a difference at every stage, from Canada told the symposium how
the acute intensive care unit access to services had significantly
environment for critical spinal injury declined over the past few decades.
patients to prevent respiratory
Professor Mary-Ann McColl
failure, through to vocational (pictured right) said her experience
programs to get people with spinal over 35 years had shown that the
injuries back to work earlier. proportions of people accessing
In 2017, the World Health
appropriate rehabilitation has
Organisation (WHO) demanded decreased, even though the
action to lift rehabilitation prevalence of health conditions
services globally. The WHO has associated with disability has
endorsed a 2030 Call for Action on increased by nearly 23 per cent
rehabilitation, describing the unmet since 2005.
need worldwide as ‘profound’.
linkonline.com.au
www.hopkinscentre.edu.au
research
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