Effects of Community-Based Exercise in Adults With Severe Burns: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Charles D Voigt, Guillermo Foncerrada, Raquel Peña and 6 others
PMID 29366724WHAT IT FOUND
Adding 12 weeks of a community program with gym membership, personal trainer sessions, and prescribed exercise to standard care improved cardiopulmonary fitness in 45 adults with severe burns.
It did not show greater gains in lean body mass or muscle strength.
Key findings
01The between-group comparison found a significant increase in VO2 peak in the community exercise group compared with standard care (reported as SOC-COMBEX = 5.523 ± 1.908 mL/kg/min, p = 0.0236).
02There were no significant between-group differences in lean body mass index or peak torque muscle strength.
03Both groups had significant within-group increases in peak torque muscle strength: COMBEX Δ = 35.645 ± 7.566 N m, p = 0.0003; SOC Δ = 34.717 ± 11.029 N m, p = 0.0082.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study was small: 45 adults were randomized, and the standard care group had only 14 participants. Outcome assessors were not blinded. The community exercise group received several things at once: usual physical and occupational therapy instructions, a 12-week gym membership, 36 personal trainer sessions 3 times per week, prescribed aerobic and resistance exercise, and usual burn care including compression therapy and splinting when prescribed. The contribution of any component cannot be separated. Personal trainer attendance logs were requested but not provided for most participants, so actual adherence to the exercise program is unclear. Follow-up measurements were incomplete, especially in the standard care group, and the lack of a structured intervention may have reduced return for testing. The supplied text does not show the inclusion criteria, participant flow, or exact number analysed for each outcome. The text lists lean body mass, muscle strength, and cardiopulmonary fitness as endpoints but does not label a primary outcome.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest or financial affiliations specific to the study. The publication types list NIH and other government research support.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the within-group gains in lean body mass and strength as proof that the community program is superior for those outcomes. The between-group comparison found no significant difference in lean body mass or peak torque strength, and the standard care group also had a significant strength increase.