Response of Muscle Mechanical Properties to Early Multi-angles Isometric Exercises in Acute Burn Patients

A burn injury represents the fourth most common type of trauma globally, though it is associated with the most devastating consequences Severe burn injuries, encompassing ≥20% of the total body surface area (TBSA) in adults, present a unique challenge compared with other forms of trauma given the magnitude and persistence of systemic dysregulation.Burns can occur when the skin is exposed to heat sources, such as flames, flash burns, hot objects, grease, scald, chemicals, and electricity Burn injuries are highly variable, as is their severity. The patient's comorbidities can influence the burn's clinical outcome. Additionally, morbidity and mortality tend to increase as the surface area of the burn increases .Isometric exercise is a static form of exercise in which a muscle contracts and produces force without an appreciable change in the length of the muscle and without visible joint motion. Although there is no mechanical work done (force × distance), a measurable amount of tension and force output are produced by the muscle. Sources of resistance for isometric exercise include holding against a force applied manually, holding a weight in a particular position, maintaining a position against the resistance of body weight, or pushing or pulling an immovable object.Although post-burn muscle wasting is widely recognized, it is not consistently targeted as a primary rehabilitation outcome during the acute phase of care. Furthermore, there is a lack of randomized controlled trials examining the effects of early Multi- angle isometric exercise on objective measures of muscle mechanical properties in acute burn patients using sensitive technology like the MyotonPRO.

Inclusion criteria

• Male and female patients aged 20 to 40 years
• Patients diagnosed with acute burns.
• Total Body Surface Area (TBSA) ranging from 15% to 30%, 2nd degree burn patients.
• Medically stable patients.
• Patients within the first 4 weeks post-burn (acute stage).
• Burns affecting lower limb muscles (Quadriceps, Hamstring , and calf muscles ) .

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with third-degree burns requiring immediate surgical grafting at the assessment site.
• Patients with associated fractures or neurological disorders.
• Patients with severe cardiopulmonary instability.
• Patients under mechanical ventilation.
• Patients with systemic diseases affecting muscle properties (e.g., neuromuscular disorders).