Early Exercise in the Burn Intensive Care Unit Decreases Hospital Stay, Improves Mental Health, and Physical Performance

Abstract

Prolonged inactivity accompanying stays in the burn intensive care unit (BICU) and hospital worsen muscle loss/weakness and lengthen hospitalization. We hypothesize that a personalized, structured, and quantifiable exercise program (MP10) will improve these variables over standard-of-care (SOC), as exercise has well documented effects on maintaining/improving muscle strength, which should shorten hospitalization. Thus, we will characterize: (Aim 1) what is SOC throughout hospital stay across the US and (Aim 2) outcomes in burn in-patients. Over 4 years, we will enroll 96 patients (24 per site; MP10 n=64 and SOC n=32) aged 1860 years with >-30% TBSA burns. MP10 will begin ~4-5 days after the first surgery after admit (or when the burn surgeon deems mobilization safe) and continue for the entire BICU and hospital stay. MP10 will take place on weekdays in the morning and afternoon. In the morning, patients will participate in a 10-minute leg-crank ergometry session (Monark leg ergometer), starting with a load (watts) eliciting a 35 rating on the Borg Rated Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale. The number of revolutions in 10 minutes and minute-by-minute muscle and respiratory effort RPE will be noted. In the afternoon, patients will participate in a 10-minute arm crank ergometry session, which will be done similarly to lower body exercise. Endpoints are lean body mass, cardiopulmonary and muscle endurance, length of BICU, ventilator and hospital stay, and Quality of Life. Within- and between-group comparisons will be performed. A successful MP10 can be a platform for future rehabilitation programs in burns or trauma.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2016
Accession Number
AD1025975

Entities

People

  • Oscar E. Suman

Organizations

  • University of Texas Medical Branch

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Burns
  • Chemistry
  • Electronic Mail
  • Health Services
  • Hospitals
  • Institutional Review Board
  • Insulin
  • Intensive Care Units
  • Lipid Metabolism
  • Medical Personnel
  • Mental Health
  • Organizational Structure
  • Patient Care
  • Quality Of Life
  • Standards
  • Therapy
  • Wound Infections

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

  • Exercise and Sports Science.
  • Trauma or Military Medicine