A prospective randomized controlled study on the effect of balance training on lower limb movement and balance dysfunction in severe burn patients

Abstract

Objective: To observe the rehabilitation effect of balance training on motor and balance function of lower extremities of deep burn patients. Methods: A prospective randomized controlled study was conducted. From January 2016 to January 2020, sixty-four patients with lower limb motor and balance dysfunction after deep burn were admitted to Tongren Hospital of Wuhan University＆Wuhan Third Hospital, the burn area was 30% to 70% Total Body Surface Area, and the burn depth of more than one hip, knee and ankle joint of both lower limbs and their periphery were deep second or third degree. According to the method of random number table, the patients were divided into routine training(RT) group and balance training(BT) group. There were 32 cases in each group, 22 males and 10 females in the RT group, aged 40.5 (35.5, 52.8) years old, and 24 males and 8 females in the BT group, aged 37.0 (30.0, 44.0) years old. Patients in group RT were conventionally conducted with knee joint stretch treatment, continuous passive motion treatment, lower limb muscle strength training and pressure therapy; while patients in group BT were conducted with balance training besides RT such as sitting balance, center of gravity transfer, pelvic stability, standing alternately on one leg and standing on balance pad. Patients in the 2 groups were treated for 4 months. Before treatment and after 4 months of treatment,Berg balance score, lower limb function score and balance activity self-confidence score were evaluated . The data were statistically analyzed with t test, Mann-Whitney U test, Wilcoxon signed rank test or χ² test. Results: (1) Before treatment, the difference value of Berg balance score of patients in group RT was (25±9), which was similar to (25±7) in group BT(t=-0.154,P>0.05). After 4 months of treatment, the difference value of Berg balance score of patients in group BT was (43±6), which was higher than (40±6) in group RT (t=2.028,P<0.05). The difference values of Berg balance scores of the patients in group RT and BT after 4 months of treatment were obviously higher than those before treatment(t=-15.189,-26.2,P<0.001). (2) Before treatment, the lower limb function score of patients in group RT was 25.0 (16.5,30.0), which was similar to 23.0(10.3,28.8) in group BT(Z=-1.575,P>0.05). After 4 months of treatment, the lower limb function score of patients in group BT was 55.0(35.0, 60.0) , which was significantly higher than 43.0 (36.0, 53.0) in group RT(Z=-2.744,P<0.01). The lower limb function scale of patients in group RT and BT after 4 months of treatment were obviously higher than those before treatment(Z=-4.943,-4.955,P<0.01). (3) Before treatment, the balance activity self-confidence scores of the two groups were similar(t=-0.966,P>0.05) . After 4 months of treatment , the balance activity self-confidence scores of patients in group ST was significantly higher than that in group RT (t=3.343,P<0.01). The balance activity self-confidence scores of patients in groups RT and BT after 4 months of treatment were obviously higher than those before treatment(t=-19.611,-34.300,P<0.001). Conclusions: The balance training can effectively promote the recovery of lower limb motor and balance function on the basis of conventional rehabilitation treatment for patients with lower limb motor and balance dysfunction after deep burns.