Effect of anti-gravity treadmill (Alter G) training on gait characteristics and postural stability in adult with healed burns: A single blinded randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Burns constitute one of the foremost contributors to premature mortality and morbidity, and the recovery process from burn injuries is characterized by its intricate and protracted nature. OBJECTIVE: The principal aim of this study was to assess the influence of an anti-gravity treadmill (Alter G) training program on both gait characteristics and postural stability indices (PSI) in adult individuals who have recovered from burns. DESIGN: This study followed a single-blind, randomized, controlled design. METHODS: A total of 45 adults, aged 18-35 years, with healed lower extremity burns that were circumferential and encompassed 35-50% of their total body surface area (TBSA) were randomly allocated to either the anti-gravity treadmill (Alter G) Training group (n = 22) or the traditional physical therapy program (TPTP) group (n=23). The TPTP group received conventional physical therapy, while the anti-gravity treadmill (Alter G) training group engaged in anti-gravity treadmill exercises alongside the traditional physical therapy program. The primary outcome measures, evaluated at both baseline and the conclusion of the 12-week intervention, included gait characteristics assessed using the GAITRite system and PSI measured by the Biodex Balance System (BBS). RESULTS: The anti-gravity treadmill (Alter G) training group exhibited significantly greater enhancements than the TPTP group in terms of mean values and percentage changes in gait characteristics and PSI. Specifically, the percentage changes for the Alter G group were as follows: stride length (20.57%), step time (22.58%), step length (20.47%), velocity (15.67%), cadence (23.28%), and double support time (29.03%). In contrast, the TPTP group's percentage changes were: 6.73%, 8.19%, 7.65%, 7.75%, 8.89%, and 9.37%, respectively. Concerning PSI, the Alter G group exhibited percentage changes of 55.17% for the medio-lateral stability index (MLI), 48.21% for antero-posterior stability index (API), and 48.48% for the overall stability index (OSI). The TPTP group's corresponding percentage changes were 20%, 14.03%, and 16.41%. CONCLUSIONS: The amalgamation of anti-gravity treadmill training with the traditional physical therapy program yields greater efficacy than TPTP in isolation. Consequently, the findings underscore the efficiency of anti-gravity treadmill (Alter G) Training as a valuable tool for rehabilitating patients with burn injuries.

Effect of Combined Electromagnetic Field and Plantar Flexion Resistance Exercise on Wound Healing in Patients with Venous Leg Ulcers: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background and Objectives: Venous ulcers are recognized to be more painful and resistant to therapy than ulcers of other etiologies. Various methods have been used for the conservative treatment of venous ulcers, such as pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) and plantar exercise, which promote wound healing due to a range of physiological effects. The study aimed to examine the effect of combined pulsed electromagnetic field therapy and plantar flexion resistance exercise (PRE) on patients with venous leg ulcers (VLUs). Materials and Methods: The study was a prospective, randomized controlled trial. A total of 60 patients between the ages of 40 and 55 with venous ulcers were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups. For up to 12 weeks, the first group received PEMF therapy and plantar flexion resistance exercise (PRE) therapy in addition to conservative ulcer treatment for up to 12 weeks. The second group received only PEMF therapy in addition to conservative ulcer treatment, while the third group served as the control and received only conservative ulcer treatment. Results: At the four-week follow-up, the two experimental groups revealed a considerable variation in ulcer surface area (USA) and ulcer volume (UV), with no significant change in the control group. At the 12-week follow-up, there were significant differences between the three groups, while group A underwent the most significant changes, with mean differences at [95% confidence interval] of (-4.75, -3.82, -0.98) for USA and (-12.63, -9.55, -2.45) for UV, respectively. Conclusions: On a short-term basis, adding a plantar resistance exercise to the PEMF had no appreciable short-term effects on ulcer healing; however, their combination had more pronounced medium-term effects.

Effects of Inspiratory Muscle Training on Clinical Predictors of Respiratory Muscle Strength and Lung Function in Burned Patients with Inhalation Injury.

Chronic airway illness is a well-documented inhalation injury side effect. Many pulmonary function impairments persisted for several months after lung parenchymal injury. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of inspiratory muscle training on respiratory muscle strength and pulmonary function (PFT) in patients who had suffered an inhalation injury. This study included male patients with inhalation injuries aged 20-35 years. Patients were chosen at random and assigned to an exercise group, which received inspiratory muscle training and routine chest physiotherapy, including early ambulation, coughing, and deep breathing, three times weekly for 4 weeks, and the control group, which only received routine chest physiotherapy. All participants were assessed for PFT and respiratory muscle strength at enrollment and the end of the study. The statistical analysis for outcome variables between both groups revealed no significant differences before treatment (P > .05) of forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), maximal inspiratory pressure, and maximal expiratory pressure. According to the findings of this study, including IMT as part of a physical therapy program led to significant gains (P ˂ .05) in FVC and FEV1. However, after treatment, there was not a substantial difference found in either the MIP or the MEP between the groups. The exercise group performed better in terms of FVC, FEV1, MIP, and MEP after receiving treatment, according to these significant and non-significant differences.