title: The effects of exercise programming vs traditional outpatient therapy in the rehabilitation of severely burned children.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and effects of exercise programming (Study group, n = 11) vs traditional outpatient therapy (Home group, n = 10) in burned children (> 40% body surface area). This was a prospective, randomized, controlled trial in a hospital-based children's wellness center. Twenty-one patients (13 boys and 8 girls) averaging 10.6 +/- 0.9 years and TBSA = 59.7 +/- 3.1% were evaluated 6 and 9 months postburn. Moderate intensity, progressive resistance and aerobic exercise conducted 3 times weekly for 1 hour were a supplement to standard therapy over 12 weeks. Muscular strength and functional outcome significantly increased in both groups (P < .05). Improvements in strength (80.1 vs 37.7%) and distance walked (39.5 vs 12.5%) were significantly greater for Study vs Home groups, respectively, P < .05. We conclude that exercise programming may be safely included in rehabilitation programs for severely burned children and can be effective in increasing muscular strength and functional outcome.
authors.affiliation: Shriners Hospitals for Children, Galveston, Texas 77550, USA.
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Cucuzzo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrando
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Herndon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002056:Burns / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D010045:Outpatients; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome