The NIDRR Burn Injury Rehabilitation Model System Program: Selected Findings

Assessment of the correlations between gait speed in post-stroke patients and the time from stroke onset, the level of motor control in the paretic lower limb, proprioception, visual field impairment and functional independence

Introduction: Gait recovery is one of the main objectives in the rehabilitation of post-stroke patients. The study aim was to assess the correlations between gait speed in post-stroke hemiparetic patients and the level of motor control in the paretic lower limb, the time from stroke onset, the subjects’ age as well as the impairment of proprioception and visual field.

Materials and methods: This retrospective study was performed at the Clinical Rehabilitation Ward of the Regional Hospital No. 2 in Rzeszow. The study group consisted of 600 patients after a first stroke who walked independently. The measurements focused on gait speed assessed in a 10-meter walking test, motor control in the lower limb according to Brunnström recovery stages, proprioception in lower limbs, visual field as well as functional independence according to The Barthel Index.

Results: The study revealed a slight negative correlation between gait speed and the subjects’ age (r = − 0.25). No correlation was found between mean gait speed and the time from stroke onset. On the other hand, gait speed strongly correlated both with the level of motor control in the lower limb (p = 0.0008) and the incidence of impaired proprioception. Additionally, a strong statistically significant correlation between the patients’ gait speed and the level of functional independence was found with the use of The Barthel Index.

Conclusions: The level of motor control in the paretic lower limb and proprioception are vital factors affecting gait speed and functional independence. Patients with a higher level of functional independence demonstrated higher gait speed.

Characteristics of 985 pediatric burn patients in the south of Liaoning province of China

Accidental injury due to burns is a serious and common, but preventable, occurrence in children. To analyze the characteristics of pediatric burns in the south of Liaoning province of China, a retrospective review was conducted of information, including general characteristics, demographics, etiology of burns, anatomical areas burned, and severity of injuries, obtained from medical records of pediatric burn patients admitted to the Burn Center of Anshan Hospital of the First Hospital of China Medical University from 2002 to 2011. Differences between age-groups and cause and severity of injuries were examined using Cochran-Mantel-Haenzsel (C-M-H) statistic or chi-square (χ(2)) analyses where appropriate. A total of 985 pediatric burn cases were included, with only one death. The maximal burn area recorded was 80% and the maximal third-degree burn area was 45%. The majority of burns (637/985, 64.67%) were moderate second-degree wounds, encompassing 5-14% of the total body surface area. The infant age-group (<3 years old) had the largest representation (622/985, 63.15%), with more males than females affected. Most of the injuries occurred at home in children living in the local region. Scalding accounted for 89.85% (885/985) of all injuries, with a decreasing incidence with age, whereas injuries due to flames and from electrical sources markedly increased with age. Only a minority of guardians (244/985, 24.77%) had burn prevention knowledge, and none of them knew how to provide first-aid treatment for burn injuries. These results indicate that the majority of pediatric burns occur in children less than 3 years of age from scalds received while at home. As a large proportion of these cases occurred in rural areas, programs emphasizing burn prevention and treatment knowledge should therefore be made more available to these families.

Nordic Walking as primary and secondary prevention of civilization diseases

This work presents available knowledge about Nordic Walking as a new form of physical activity that is appropriate for every person, who is able to walk independently, regardless of age. The study was based on information provided in available literature. The first part described the impact of low physical activity on human health and the development of civilization diseases. The second part presents an analysis of biomechanical and physiological gait of Nordic Walking. The third part concerns the possibility of applying marches with poles in prevention and treatment of civilization diseases - osteoporosis, obesity and cardiovascular disease.

Intensive exercise after thermal injury improves physical, functional, and psychological outcomes

BACKGROUND

Although exercise programs after burns are considered a standard of care, there is limited evidence for efficacy in adult patients. This study aimed to investigate the effects of an exercise program on physical, functional, and quality of life measures.

METHODS

A quasi-experimental controlled trial was instituted after final grafting. Both groups completed stretching, and the intervention group underwent a supervised high-intensity (80% maximal heart rate and 70% three repetition maximum) combined aerobic or resisted exercise program for 6 weeks, with outcome measures at baseline, 6 weeks, and 3 months by a blinded assessor. Analysis was by intention to treat.

RESULTS

Thirty patients (24 men) with a mean age of 34.3 years (± 13.1 years) and mean total body surface area 42.9% (± 13.3%) were enrolled. Inequalities at baseline (age and total body surface area %) were adjusted statistically. A between within repeated measures analysis of variance found significant group × time effects between the groups. Mean change scores from baseline to 12 weeks between control and intervention groups, respectively, were strength (kg): quadriceps (17.5 vs. 66.87), latissimus dorsi (6.07 vs. 27.82), right (4.86 vs. 14.86) and left (7.26 vs. 16.83) hand grip; fitness: peak oxygen consumption (L/min; 0.11 vs. 0.93) and shuttle walk distance (m; 168.93 vs. 459); function: lower extremity function score (8.87 vs. 27.31) and QuickDash (-5.7 vs. -23.98); and health-related quality of life: Burns-Specific Health Scale-Abbreviated (-7.64 vs. 35.13). There were no adverse events during either testing or training.

CONCLUSION

A high-intensity cardiovascular or resisted exercise program resulted in significant improvements in functional, physical, and psychologic measures and should be mandatory for all burns patients. Larger multicenter trials with longer follow-up periods are required.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic study, level III.

Pain, depression, and physical functioning following burn injury

OBJECTIVE

Little is known about how pain and depression after burn injury may influence long-term outcomes such as physical functioning. This prospective study examined associations between pain, depression, and physical functioning in a sample of burn injury survivors.

DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS

Questionnaires assessing pain, depression, and physical functioning were completed by 64 (52% of original sample) adult burn survivors shortly after discharge from burn care and at 1- and 2-year follow-ups.

RESULTS

Pain and physical functioning improved over the 2 years of the study, whereas depression levels were stable. Pain and depression were associated with poorer physical functioning over time, but associations varied according to the time span under consideration. Also, the association between pain and physical functioning was strongest among persons with higher depression scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Pain and depression may contribute independently to compromises in physical functioning. The co-occurrence of pain and depression represents even greater risk for reduced physical functioning over time among burn survivors.