Aquatic Training in Patients With Severe Scarring

Universitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven

Overview

Aim: \- to investigate the effects of an aquatic exercise program in patients with severe scars Patient population: * 10 patients of at least 18 years old * patients with scars after burns or other severe skin injuries * stratification into two groups: an intervention group and a control group Method: * 8 patients will participate in the aquatic exercise group and 2 patients in the control group * assessment of physical fitness parameters, scar tissue and psychosocial impact Hypothesis: \- patients of the aquatic exercise group will recover sooner and better (physically and psychologically) than patients of the control group

Intervention: \- during 6 weeks patients will performed an aquatic exercise program (2 to 3 sessions a week) Assessment: * T0: post-hospitalisation status: body mass index, physical fitness, strength and respiratory function * T1: at baseline: body mass index, physical fitness, strength, respiratory function, exercise capacity, mobility, scar parameters and some questionnaires * T2: after 6 weeks training: same measurements as T1 * T3: 3 months after end of aquatic training: idem T1 * T4: 6 months after end of aquatic training: questionnaires * T5: 1 year after end of aquatic training: questionnaires

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Conditions

Burns Scar

Interventions

Aquatic trainingOTHER

Aquatic training during a 6 weeks program (15 to 18 sessions of 1 hour)

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * at least 18 years old * hospitalisation at the burn unit of at least 14 days * patients with severe skin damage (like burns, deglovements, necrotic fasciitis, ...) Exclusion Criteria: * younger than 18 years * psychiatric history (recommandation of psychiatrist not to participate in the study)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in physical activity using Dynaport activity monitor

Post-hospitalisation status = participants will be followed during the last three consecutive days of their hospital stay. The minimum period of hospital stay is 14 days (inclusion criteria), the maximum period of hospital stay is not determined. The expected average can not be given.

Time frame: Post-hospitalisation status, baseline, after 6 weeks, after 3 months

Secondary Outcomes

Strength (Jamar, MicroFET, MIP)

Time frame: Post-hospitalisation status, basline, after 6 weeks, after 3 months

Quality of life (using 5 questionnaires like SF-36)

Time frame: Basline, after 6 weeks, after 3 months

Exercise capacity (6-minutes walking test and 4-minutes swimming test)

Time frame: Baseline, after 6 weeks and after 3 months

BMI

Time frame: Post-hospitalisation status, baseline, after 6 weeks and after 3 months

Joint mobility

Time frame: Baseline, after 6 weeks, after 3 months

Pulmonary function (FEV1 and FVC)

Time frame: Post-hospitalisation status, baseline, after 6 weeks, after 3 months

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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