Abstract:

People with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) have decreased mobility and fitness compared to the average
person. To improve their health, participating in exercises and a well-balanced diet is important.
Standing on a bosu ball with one leg is one exercise that helps improve the recovery of TBI patients. It is
an exercise that trains balance, stabilizes muscles and reduces the risks of falling. It is recommended for
people with TBI to only exercise three to five times a week, at an intensity of 40% and 70% of peak
oxygen uptake and for duration of only 20 to 60 minutes of exercises. But this can still vary depending
on the severity of their condition. The exercise involves standing on the curved side of the bosu ball with
one leg and attempting to balance them.

Standing on a bosu ball is a way to train balance; a person's stability is increased with this method.
People who suffer from traumatic brain injury are suggested to partake in exercise programs to help
improve their muscle strength and for cognitive improvement. Standing on a bosu ball with one leg is an
exercise that one who has a TBI can participate in. People with TBI are often inactive and this leads to a
decrease in fitness that can affect their health. Therefore, it is suggested for people with TBI to partake
in safe but effective exercise programs to avoid risks and improve poor health (Journal of Head Trauma
Rehabilitation: March/April 2012 - Volume 27 - Issue 2 - p 99-103

Bosu ball exercise trains motor skills and kinesthetic awareness. It challenges a person to train their
balance and build strength at the same time. For the TBI patients who are new in exercising, it is strongly
advised for them to have basic skills in balancing at the ground before transferring to a bosu ball that is
known for its uneven surface
(https://www.acefitness.org/education-and-resources/professional/expert-articles/5819/7-basic-bosu-
balance-exercises/).doi: 10.1097/HTR.0b013e31820e6858).

During this exercise, it is needed to customize a personal exercise program for people with TBI, as
people with disabilities have decreased levels of fitness compared to an average person and depending
on the severity of the injury, the level of physical activity one can endure can vary. People with TBI have
decreased levels of stamina and mobility. It is important to check the q's heart rate, temperature and
senses before, during or after the exercise. Furthermore, it is recommended for people with TBI to only
exercise three to five times a week, at an intensity of 40% and 70% of peak oxygen uptake and for
duration of only 20 to 60 minutes of exercises. But this still may vary depending on the level of physical
activity the person can endure. A well thought out and careful exercise program is important in training
clients with TBI
(https://www.physio-pedia.com/Physical_Activity_Guidelines_for_Traumatic_Brain_Injury).
In the execution of this exercise, make sure to place the bosu ball near a wall or equipment that can be
used for support to add protection to the user. It is important to get the patient to get used to the ball
first before officially starting the routine. Standing on a bosu ball with one leg may be difficult to do
immediately; therefore, it is important to assist them while performing the exercise to prevent
unwanted accidents. Position the client upright on the ball with feet-hip distance apart and slowly ask
them to lift one leg and attempt to balance themselves on the bosu ball. A bosu ball also has two sides,
the black and blue side. In this exercise the blue side will be used where it is focused on foot stabilizing,
which is advised for TBI patients as it helps in training their balance. For people with TBI it is important
to help them improve their abilities to perform daily activities. (https://www.acefitness.org/education-
and-resources/professional/expert-articles/5819/7-basic-bosu-balance-exercises/).

Exercising regularly is important, but this alone will not help improve fitness if the patient lacks a
balanced diet. It is good to make sure that the patient intakes at least 2000 to 2500 calories per day,
under eating, can increase fatigue and hinder the exercise routine. People with TBI already have
decreased stamina, and mobility; it is important for the patients to have a good diet. A good diet may
vary from person to person, so it is best to consult a registered dietician for this. But it is recommended
for TBI patients, to avoid diets with high levels of salt and sugar. Increased salt and sugar intake on the
diet can increase the risk of stroke. Sugary foods can also lead to a drop in energy, and cause increased
fatigue; this can cut the duration of physical activity a person can endure. Furthermore, it is advised to
put whole grains on their diet plan as this helps in maintaining energy all throughout the day. To
improve the health and recovery of people with TBI, an exercise routine with a balanced diet is
important. https://www.headway.org.uk/about-brain-injury/individuals/brain-injury-and-me/diet-after-
brain-injury-healthy-body-healthy-mind/).