Optimization of pulmonary function, functional capacity, and quality of life in adolescents with thoracic burns after a 2-month arm cycling exercise programme: A randomized controlled study

Walid Kamal Abdelbasset; Shereen H Elsayed; Gopal Nambi; Bader A Alqahtani; Ahmad M Osailan; Alshimaa R Azab; Samah A Moawd; Zeinab A Ali; Anju Verma; Ramadan S Hussein; Marwa M Eid

doi:10.1016/j.burns.2021.03.010

Optimization of pulmonary function, functional capacity, and quality of life in adolescents with thoracic burns after a 2-month arm cycling exercise programme: A randomized controlled study

Burns. 2022 Feb;48(1):78-84. doi: 10.1016/j.burns.2021.03.010. Epub 2021 Apr 7.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia; Department of Physical Therapy, Kasr Al-Aini Hospital, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt. Electronic address: walidkamal.wr@gmail.com.
² Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
³ Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia; Department of Physical Therapy for Pediatrics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
⁵ Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia; Department of Physical Therapy for Cardiovascular/Respiratory Disorders and Geriatrics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
⁶ Department of Physical Therapy for Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt; Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences in Al-Qurayyat, Jouf University, Saudi Arabia.
⁷ Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia.
⁸ Department of Physical Therapy for Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt; Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia.

PMID: 33849715
DOI: 10.1016/j.burns.2021.03.010

Abstract

Background: Burns to the thorax are at high risk for long-term pulmonary complications due to chest muscle contractures and chronic inflammation in both adolescents and young adults. Few studies have investigated the effects of arm cycling exercise in those individuals. For that reason, this study examined pulmonary function, functional capacity, and quality of life (QOL) in adolescents with thoracic burns subsequent to 2-month arm cycling exercise programme.

Methods: A single-blinded, two-month randomized prospective controlled study was carried out between July 2019 and March 2020 on thirty adolescents with chest burns aged 11-17 years. They were randomized into two equal groups (n = 15), traditional physiotherapy programme (control group), and arm cycling exercise plus traditonal physiotherapy (arm cycling exercise group) for 2 consecutive months. Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), six-minute walk test (6MWT), and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) were measured in both groups at baseline and after 2-month after intervention.

Results: No statistical significance was detected at baseline between control and arm cycling exercise groups (FVC, p = 0.903, FEV1, p = 0.835, 6MWT, p = 0.817, and PedsQL, p = 0.612). 2 months after intervention showed statistical improvements in the arm cycling exercise group in all measures (FVC, p = 0.001, FEV1, p < 0.0001, 6MWT, p = 0.001, and PedsQL, p = 0.001) however, the control group showed statistical improvements in FVC, p = 0.044 and FEV1, p = 0.024 with non-statistically significant changes in 6MWT, p = 0.145 and PedsQL, p = 0.067. The arm cycling exercise group showed greater improvements than control group in the outcome measures (FVC, p = 0.034, FEV1, p < 0.017, 6MWT, p = 0.037, and PedsQL, p = 0.021).

Conclusions: This prospective study clearly demonstrated positive and beneficial influences of two-month arm cycling exercise in the optimization of pulmonary functions, functional performance, and QOL in adolescents suffering from chest burns and thereby eliminating post-burn complications.

Keywords: Aerobic capacity; Arm cycling exercise; Chest burns; Pulmonary functions; Quality of life.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Arm
Burns* / complications
Burns* / therapy
Child
Exercise Therapy
Exercise Tolerance / physiology
Forced Expiratory Volume
Humans
Prospective Studies
Quality of Life*
Vital Capacity