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 hypothesized that a personalized, structured, and quantifiable exercise program (MP10) would 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 characterized: (Aim 1) what was the SOC throughout hospital stay across the US and (Aim 2) we characterized the outcomes in burn in-patients. Over 4 years, we enrolled 77 patients aged 760 years with greater than or equal to 30 percent TBSA burns. MP10 began approximately 45 days after the first surgery after admit (or most importantly, when the burn surgeon deemed mobilization safe) and continued for the entire BICU and hospital stay. MP10 took place on weekdays in the morning and afternoon. In the morning, patients participated in a 10-minute leg-crank ergometry session (Monarkleg 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 was noted. In the afternoon, patients participated in a 10-minute arm crank ergometry session, which was done similarly to lower body exercise. Endpoints were lean mass, cardiopulmonary and muscle endurance, length of BICU, ventilator and hospital stay, and measures of Quality of Life. Within- and between-group comparisons were performed. MP10 was safe and can be added to standard of care in the ICU. It can also be a platform for future rehabilitation programs.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1110696
Entities
People
- Oscar E. Suman
Organizations
- University of Texas Medical Branch