Aquatics, health-promoting self-care behaviours and adults with brain injuries

Primary objective: To determine the effect of an aquatic programme on the health promoting behaviours of adults with brain injuries. Main outcomes and results: Eighteen individuals participated in the programme and were randomly assigned to an experimental (n = 9) or control group (n = 9). Health promoting behaviours, physical self-concept and self-esteem were measured pre- and post-intervention. Significant differences and large effect sizes were found between scores for the experimental group only, indicating an increase in health promoting behaviours, physical self-concept and self-esteem. Conclusions: Results have useful implications for health professionals as exercise prescription may enhance health promoting behaviours and decrease health care costs after a brain injury.