Music and exercise in children with severe burns

Researchers from Shriners Hospitals for Children in Galveston, Texas studied the effects of adding music and exercise to a rehabilitation program in children with thermal injury.

First, the details.

• 24 severely burned children (ages 2 to 6 years) participated in a 12-week rehabilitation program.
  • 15 received standard care plus music and exercise.
  • 9 received standard care.
• Researchers measured elbow and knee range of motion.
• Groups were compared for demographics as well as active and passive ROM to bilateral elbows and knees.

And, the results.

• Patients receiving the 12-week program significantly improved range of motion in all joints assessed except one.
• Patients receiving standard care showed a significant improvement in only one of the joints assessed.

The bottom line?
“Providing a structured supplemental music and exercise program during occupational and physical therapy seems to improve both passive and active ROM to a greater extent than the standard care alone,” concluded the authors.

1/28/09 21:42 JR