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
