Augmented Exercise in the Treatment of Deconditioning From Major Burn Injury
Abstract
de Lateur BJ, Magyar-Russell G, Bresnick MG, Bernier FA, Ober MS, Krabak BJ, Ware L, Hayes MP, Fauerbach JA. Augmented exercise in the treatment of deconditioning from major burn injury.
Objective
To investigate the efficacy of a 12-week exercise program in producing greater improvement in aerobic capacity in adult burn survivors, relative to usual care.
Design
Randomized, controlled, double-blinded trial.
Setting
Burn center.
Participants
A population-based sample of 35 adult patients admitted to a burn center for treatment of a serious burn injury.
Intervention
A 12-week, 36-session, aerobic treadmill exercise program where work to quota (WTQ) participants intensified their exercise according to preset quotas and work to tolerance (WTT) participants continued to their tolerance. Participants completed a maximal stress test at baseline and 12 weeks to measure physical fitness.
Main Outcome Measure
Maximal aerobic capacity.
Results
The WTT and the WTQ exercise groups both made significant improvements in aerobic capacity from baseline to 12 weeks (t=−3.60, P≤.01; t=−3.17, P≤.01, respectively). The control group did not (t=−1.39, P=.19). WTT and WTQ participants demonstrated significantly greater improvements in aerobic capacity in comparison to the control group members (F=4.6, P≤.05). The WTT and WTQ groups did not differ significantly from each other with regard to their respective improvements in aerobic capacity (F=.014, P=.907).
Conclusions
The aerobic capacity of adult burn survivors can be improved with participation in a structured, 12-week exercise program after injury.
aDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
bDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
cDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
dGeneral Clinical Research Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
eJohns Hopkins Burn Center, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore, MD.
Reprint requests to James A. Fauerbach, PhD, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center / Burn Center, 4940 Eastern Ave, Baltimore, MD 21224
Supported by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, U.S. Department of Education (grant no. H133A020101) and the Community Fund, Johns Hopkins Burn Center.
No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the author(s) or upon any organization with which the author(s) is/are associated.
ABSTRACT