On physical functioning after pediatric burns (2015)

Burn injury can negatively impact physical functioning. This is not only due to the local damage of the skin or subsequent scarring, but also due to the disturbance of physiological processes and a period of physical inactivity. If limitations in physical functioning persist, it can affect health and quality of life in the long term. This is highly undesirable, especially in children, who form a risk group for burn injury and have their whole lives ahead of them. However, knowledge on physical functioning after burns is scarce. The aim of this dissertation therefore was to gain insight into physical functioning of people after burns, by means of studying functional independence and physical fitness. Functional independence appeared affected after pediatric burns, but returned to adequate levels for age within three months in the majority of the subjects. Insight into physical fitness after burns was gained firstly through a systematic review of the literature. Subsequently, a multidimensional clinical study was set up considering physical fitness in a broader perspective. Results showed that muscular strength and exercise capacity are adequate in most Dutch children and adolescents when measured one to five years post burn. Although the outcomes are mainly positive, there is a small part of the Dutch pediatric burn population that shows inadequate physical functioning and deserves extra attention. Further research is necessary to enlarge the knowledge on physical functioning after burns and, beyond that, to support clinical practice.