SHBC1028

A.C.Y.HO¹, R.C.L.ONG¹, Y.M.SOH¹

Tan Tock Seng Hospital¹

Relative to stroke patients, patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) often present with behavioural and cognitive impairments, making the implementation of circuit class in such populations challenging. 

This study examines the effectiveness of circuit training on balance, gait speed, endurance and energy expenditure of walking in patients after TBI.

A retrospective chart review of twelve inpatients with TBI who had undergone circuit training at TTSH Rehabilitation Centre – three Ranchos V, five Ranchos VI, and four Ranchos VII.

Circuit stations were sit to stand, tandem walking, and treadmill training. Patients underwent training four days a week in a ratio of two staff to five patients.

Balance, gait speed, endurance and energy expenditure of walking were evaluated using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), ten-metre walk test (10MWT), six-minute walk test (6MWT), and Physiological Cost Index (PCI) respectively.

All patients demonstrated statistically significant improvements in balance (p<0.005), gait speed (p<0.05), and endurance (p<0.005). Five patients achieved the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of six points for BBS, seven achieved the MCID of 0.16 metres per second for 10MWT, and seven achieved the MCID of 34.4 metres for 6MWT. A statistically significant improvement was also seen in PCI (p<0.05), with three patients achieving the MCID of 0.52 beats per metre.

Preliminary results support the feasibility of circuit training in TBI patients despite their cognitive and behavioural presentations. Further, this review illustrates the effectiveness of circuit training in improving balance, gait speed, endurance and energy expenditure in TBI patients, particularly Ranchos V and above.