Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2026
Lower Limb Biomechanical Analysis of Healthy Participants
Published on: April 15, 2020
Effect of isokinetic training on muscle strength, size and gait after healed pediatric burn: a randomized controlled
Anwar Abdelgayed Ebid1, Shamekh Mohamed El-Shamy2, Amira Hussin Draz3
1Department of Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
Insights
Isokinetic training significantly improved muscle strength, size, and gait in pediatric burn patients. This program offers a superior rehabilitation approach compared to standard exercises for burn survivors.
Area of Science:
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Pediatric Physical Therapy
- Burn Injury Recovery
Background:
- Pediatric burns, especially circumferential lower extremity burns, can lead to significant deficits in muscle strength, size, and gait parameters.
- Standard physical therapy may not fully restore functional recovery in these young patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of a 12-week isokinetic training program on quadriceps muscle strength, size, and gait parameters in pediatric burn survivors.
- To compare the efficacy of isokinetic training against a home-based physical therapy program.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 33 pediatric patients (ages 10-15) with lower extremity burns (36-45% TBSA).
- Participants were randomized into an isokinetic training group (n=16) or a control group (n=17) receiving standard home-based physical therapy.
- Isokinetic assessments of quadriceps strength and size, along with gait analysis, were conducted at baseline and post-intervention.
Main Results:
- The isokinetic group demonstrated significant improvements in quadriceps strength (68.40% increase) and size (7.47% increase) compared to the control group (9.84% and 1.02% increases, respectively).
- Gait parameters, including stride length, step length, velocity, and cadence, showed substantial improvements in the isokinetic group (ranging from 53.97% to 81.42% increase) versus the control group (ranging from 6.68% to 15.15% increase).
Conclusions:
- A 12-week isokinetic training program is effective in enhancing quadriceps muscle strength and size in pediatric burn patients.
- Isokinetic training leads to superior improvements in gait parameters compared to conventional physical therapy in this population.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of isokinetic training program on muscle strength, muscle size and gait parameters after healed pediatric burn.
Design:
Randomized controlled trial.
Subjects:
Thirty three pediatric burned patients with circumferential lower extremity burn with total body surface area (TBSA) ranging from 36 to 45%, and ages from 10 to 15 years participated in the study and were randomized into isokinetic group and a control group. Non-burned healthy pediatric subjects were assessed similarly to burned subjects and served as matched healthy controls.
Methods:
Patients in the isokinetic group (n=16) participated in the isokinetic training program for 12 weeks for quadriceps dominant limb, 3 times per week, at angular velocity 150°/s, concentric mode of contraction, time rest between each set for 3 min, 3 sets/day and control group (n=17) participated in home based physical therapy exercise program without isokinetic.
Main Measures:
Assessment of quadriceps strength by isokinetic dynamometer, quadriceps size and gait parameters were performed at baseline and at the end of the training period for both groups.
Results:
Patients in isokinetic group showed a significant improvement in quadriceps strength, quadriceps size and gait parameters as compared with those in the control group. Quadriceps strength and percentage of improvement was 79.25 ± 0.93 Nm (68.40%) for isokinetic group and 51.88 ± 1.31 Nm (9.84%) for the control group. Quadriceps size and percentage of improvement was 31.50 ± 0.89 cm (7.47%) for isokinetic group and 29.26 ± 1.02 cm (1.02%) for the control group. Stride length, step length, velocity and cadence and percentage of improvement for isokinetic group was 135.50 ± 2.82 (53.97%), 63.25 ± 2.97 (63.77%), 135.94 ± 1.65 (81.42%), 137.63 ± 1.36 (66.96%) and for the control group was 94.00 ± 2.69 (6.68%), 43.76 ± 1.34 (15.15%), 81.11 ± 1.91 (8.6%), 90.35 ± 1.32 (9.01%) respectively.
Conclusions:
Participation in the isokinetic training program resulted in a greater improvement in quadriceps muscle strength, size and gait parameters in pediatric burn.
