Cambiaso-Daniel J, et al. - This retrospective, case-control study was performed to compare physical capacity and body composition between children with burn injuries at approximately 4 years postburn and healthy, fit children. The benefits of rehabilitative exercise training on strength and cardiorespiratory capacity were maintained at almost 4 years postburn. However, they were not restored fully to the levels of healthy children. These findings suggested that future development of continuous exercise rehabilitation interventions after discharge could further narrow the gap in relation to healthy adolescents, although the underlying mechanism of this phenomenon remained elusive.

Methods

• The physicians examined the strength, aerobic capacity, and body composition of children with severe burn injuries (n = 40) at discharge, after completion of a 6- to 12-week rehabilitative exercise training program and at 3-4 years postburn.
• They expressed values as a relative percentage of those in age- and sex-matched children for comparison (n = 40 for discharge and postexercise; n = 40 for 3.5 years postburn).

Results

• Lean body mass was 89% of that in children without burn injuries, and exercise rehabilitation restored this to 94% (P < .01) at discharge.
• While total body fat was increased (148%, P=.01), lean body mass (94%), bone mineral content (89%), and bone mineral density (93%; each P ≤ .02) remained reduced at 3.5 years postburn.
• In children with burn injuries, cardiorespiratory fitness remained lower both after exercise training (75%; P < .0001) and 3.5 years later (87%; P < .001).
• After discharge, peak torque (60%; P < .0001) and average power output (58%; P < .0001) were lower.
• Even though exercise training improved these, children with burn injuries failed to reach levels achieved in healthy children without burns (83-84%; P < .0001) but were maintained at 85% and 82%, respectively, 3.5 years later (P < .0001).