Role of Early Range of Motion Exercises in Reduction of Scar Formation and Prevention of Contracture in Sub-acute Stage of Burn Patients

Objective: To determine the role of early passive range of motion exercises in the reduction in scar formation and prevention of Contracture in sub-acute Burn Patients. Study Design: Randomized Control Trail (RCT). Place and Duration of Study: Burn Centre Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Islamabad, from January to December, 2010. Materials and Methods: Thirty patients were selected from the burn center at Pakistan Institute of Medical sciences (PIMS) Islamabad, age ranging from 12-60 years, and were randomly placed into two groups, 15 patients in each group. The anti-contracture positioning program was applied on group A with early passive range of motion (PROM) exercises of the involved areas and in group B only anticontracture positioning program was applied. The Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) was used as an assessment tool and 4 variables were assessed including vascularity, height/thickness, pliability, and pigmentation. Data was analyzed on SPSS version-20 and independent t-test was applied at 90% level of significance to calculate the p-value for group A and B. Results: The results show that the anti-contracture positioning with early passive range of motion (PROM) exercises reduced scar formation and prevent contractures more significantly in group A (P-value =0.002) with average VSS score 6, as compare to the anticontracture positioning alone in group B (P-value=0.435) with VSS score 10, as assessed at the completion of physical therapy management program in all the 30 patients of subacute stage of burn. Conclusion: It was concluded that the early passive range of motion exercises with anti-contractures positing can reduce the amount of scar formation, prevent contractures and increase the quality of physical therapy management in sub-acute stage of burn patients.