title: The effect of burn rehabilitation massage therapy on hypertrophic scar after burn: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of burn rehabilitation massage therapy on hypertrophic scar after burn.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and forty-six burn patients with hypertrophic scar(s) were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group. All patients received standard rehabilitation therapy for hypertrophic scars and 76 patients (massage group) additionally received burn scar rehabilitation massage therapy. Both before and after the treatment, we determined the scores of visual analog scale (VAS) and itching scale and assessed the scar characteristics of thickness, melanin, erythema, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), sebum, and elasticity by using ultrasonography, Mexameter(®), Tewameter(®), Sebumeter(®), and Cutometer(®), respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The scores of both VAS and itching scale decreased significantly in both groups, indicating a significant intragroup difference. With regard to the scar characteristics, the massage group showed a significant decrease after treatment in scar thickness, melanin, erythema, TEWL and a significant intergroup difference. In terms of scar elasticity, a significant intergroup difference was noted in immediate distension and gross skin elasticity, while the massage group significant improvement in skin distensibility, immediate distension, immediate retraction, and delayed distension.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that burn rehabilitation massage therapy is effective in improving pain, pruritus, and scar characteristics in hypertrophic scars after burn.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Burn Center, Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yoon Soo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Burn Center, Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: Hallym University Burn Institute, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Aram
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Burn Surgery, Hallym Burn Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyeong Tae
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Burn Surgery, Hallym Burn Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Haejun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yim
authors.affiliation: Department of Burn Surgery, Hallym Burn Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Suk
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Burn Surgery, Hallym Burn Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Do-Hern
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Burn Surgery, Hallym Burn Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hur
authors.affiliation: Department of Burn Surgery, Hallym Burn Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Hallym University Burn Institute, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Burn Surgery, Hallym Burn Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Wook
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Hallym Burn Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Boung Chul
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Burn Center, Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Hallym University Burn Institute, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: chseomd@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Cheong Hoon
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Seo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications*; D017439:Cicatrix, Hypertrophic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004548:Elasticity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008405:Massage / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011537:Pruritus / Q000209:etiology; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012867:Skin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Burn; Hypertrophic scars; Massage therapy; Rehabilitation