Objective: This study examined the benefits of exercise.
Design: A retrospective study.
Setting: A community-based sample.
Participants: A sample of 240 individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) (64 exercisers and 176 nonexercisers) and 139 individuals without a disability (66 exercisers and 73 nonexercisers).
Main outcome measures: Scales measuring disability and handicap.
Results: It was found that the TBI exercisers were less depressed than nonexercising individuals with TBI, TBI exercisers reported fewer symptoms, and their self-reported health status was better than the nonexercising individuals with TBI. There were no differences between the two groups of individuals with TBI on measures of disability and handicap.
Conclusions: The findings suggest that exercise improves mood and aspects of health status but does affect aspects of disability and handicap.