A groundbreaking study has shown that children with severe burns can significantly improve their muscle strength, lean mass, and aerobic capacity through a community-based exercise program, offering a convenient alternative to hospital-based rehabilitation.

In 2016, the research led by Raquel Peña and colleagues, aimed to address the long-term physical challenges faced by pediatric burn patients, such as muscle breakdown, weakness, and poor fitness. These issues can persist after severe burns, especially in children with burns covering more than 30% of their body. Traditionally, such patients undergo a 12-week in-hospital exercise rehabilitation program designed to restore their physical abilities. However, this approach requires long periods away from home, school, and family, making it difficult for many families to manage.

In an effort to find a more accessible solution, the team developed a community-based exercise training program (COMBEX), which was designed to be carried out near patients’ homes. The study involved 34 children, aged 7 to 18, who were randomly assigned to either the COMBEX program (12 participants) or a hospital-based outpatient exercise program (EX) (22 participants). Both programs involved 12 weeks of progressive resistance and aerobic exercise, with the COMBEX group training in community fitness centers, while the EX group followed a similar regimen in the hospital.

At the end of the study, both groups showed significant improvements in key health metrics. The COMBEX group saw a 6.5% increase in lean body mass, a 49.9% improvement in muscle strength, and a 46.9% increase in peak aerobic capacity. Similarly, the hospital-based EX group experienced a 6.9% increase in lean mass, a 67.1% gain in muscle strength, and a 35.5% improvement in aerobic capacity.

Although the hospital-based group showed a slightly greater improvement in muscle strength, the overall benefits in both groups were substantial, and the differences were not statistically significant. This suggests that the community-based program is just as effective as hospital-based rehabilitation in improving physical outcomes in children recovering from severe burns.

“Both programs are efficacious in enhancing lean mass, strength, and cardiopulmonary capacity in severely burned children,” the researchers concluded. This study highlights the potential for community-based rehabilitation to provide an effective, more convenient option for families, while maintaining comparable health benefits to traditional hospital-based programs.

Reference: Peña, R., Ramirez, L. L., Crandall, C. G., Wolf, S. E., Herndon, D. N., & Suman, O. E. (2016). Effects of community-based exercise in children with severe burns: a randomized trial. Burns, 42(1), 41-47.