Effects of Community-Based Exercise in Adults With Severe Burns: A Randomized Controlled Trial

To investigate the efficacy of community-based exercise programs in the rehabilitation of adult patients with burns compared with standard of care (SOC).

Randomized controlled trial, with 2:1 randomization.

Assessments were performed in a hospital setting. The intervention was performed in a community setting.

Adult patients (N=45) with ≥30% total body surface area burns were randomized to participate in a community-based exercise program (n=31) or SOC (n=14). Patient sampling was consecutive and referred.

The community-based exercise program consisted of 12 weeks of exercise with a community-based trainer after hospital discharge. The SOC group did not receive exercise training.

Change in lean body mass index, peak torque, and peak oxygen consumption from discharge to 12 weeks postdischarge, presented as mean ± SE.

The community-based exercise program group showed a significant increase in peak oxygen consumption compared with SOC (community-based exercise program: Δ=7.723±1.522mL/kg/min, P=.0006; SOC: Δ=2.200±1.150mL/kg/min, P=.0765; community-based exercise program vs SOC, P=.0236). The community-based exercise program group exhibited a significant within group increase in lean body mass index (Δ=1.107±0.431kg/m², P=.0003; SOC: Δ=1.323±0.873kg/m², P=.2808). Both groups showed significant within-group increases in peak torque (community-based exercise program: Δ=35.645±7.566Nm, P=.0003; SOC: Δ=34.717±11.029Nm, P=.0082). No significant differences were noted between the 2 groups for lean body mass index or peak torque.

Patients who participate in a community-based exercise program show significant improvements in cardiopulmonary fitness compared with SOC, supporting the use of a community-based exercise program as an alternative therapy to SOC in adults with severe burns.