Sustainable peer-based leisure activity after traumatic brain injury (TBI)

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an alteration of brain function or other evidence of brain pathology that is caused by external forces, with injury severity ranging from mild to moderate and severe (Menon et al., 2010; Silver et al., 2018). 50–60 million people are diagnosed with a TBI each year, costing the global economy approximately US $400 billion (Maas et al., 2022). People with TBI experience reductions in physical health, social participation, return to work, interpersonal relationships, and leisure activity (Izzy et al., 2022; Larsson et al., 2013; Cuthbert et al., 2015; Hammond et al., 2021; Wise et al., 2010), which can be mitigated through leisure-time physical activity (LTPA; Quilico, et al., 2021).

TBI-Health/TCC-Santé is a grass-roots initiative aimed at improving the health, well-being, and quality of life of people with TBI (Quilico, et al., 2022; 2023; 2024). TBI-Health/TCC-Santé programs consist of fitness centre- and outdoor walking-based LTPA approaches to addressing the biopsychosocial needs of people with TBI. A sustainable and accessible TBI-Health/TCC-Santé program for optimal recovery, participation, and quality of life after TBI demonstrated feasibility in the community (Quilico, et al., 2025). This panel discussion will share the perceptions and lived experiences of multiple stakeholders, including researchers, community partners, and people with lived experience. Our talk will explore the range of outcomes associated with TBI-Health/TCC-Santé programs, in addition to addressing current challenges and future expansion with our community partners.

About the panelists

Shawn Wilkinson is Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Human Sciences at Concordia University.

Elizabeth Teel is Assistant Professor in the Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Applied Physiology at Concordia University. 

Enrico Quilico is a research scientist at the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and an Affiliate Professor at Concordia University.

Pascal Brodeur is the Directeur adjoint of the Association Québeécoise des Traumatisés Crâniens (AQTC)

Eric Tessier is Intervenant à l'intégration sociale at the Association Québeécoise des Traumatisés Crâniens (AQTC)