Investigation of the effects of different gait training applied in early period on physical functions in patients with lower extremity burn injury

This study was planned to investigate the effect of different gait training that applied in early period on walking and physical function in subjects with lower extremity burn injury. Twenty-eight subjects were included in this study. Subjects were allocated into overground and treadmill groups by matching according to burn localization. In addition to the standart burn rehabilitation program, the group were trained on the overground, another group were trained on the treadmill. Exercise training was performed 5 days a week. Subjects were evaluated before the first exercise training and after the last exercise training. The GAITRite, timed up and go test (TUG), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), 6 minutes walking test (MWT), Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK), Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) were used in the evaluation. The mean age of the overground and treadmill groups was found 37.00 ± 11.16, 33.64 ± 12.39 years; the total burn surface area was found to be 4.78 ± 2.57%, 4.42 ± 2.73% respectively. The demographic characteristics of the groups were similar (p˃0.05). When the burned limbs were compared after treatment in the overground group, there was a difference in step length, while other parameters were similar (p˃0.05). There was no difference in terms of gait variables among the burned limbs in the treadmill group (p˃0.05). When the pre-post treatment intact limbs were compared within groups, there was a difference in all gait variables except toe in/out in both groups (p˂0.05). When the differences before and after treatment were compared between groups in terms of burned and intact limbs, it is shown that there was a difference in the swing phase of the burned limb while the other variables were similar; while all gait variables were similar in the intact limbs (p˃0.05). When gait speed and cadence were compared before and after treatment, there was a significant difference in both groups (p˂0.05). While there were positive improvements in 6 MWT, TUG, BBS, TSK, FIM total and motor score, pain and feeling of strain (p˂0.05), there were no change in FIM cognitive scores after the treatment in groups (p˃0.05). When the differences were examined before and after the treatment, there was a significant difference in favor of the treadmill group in terms of TUG, kinesophobia level and FIM motor score (p˂0.05), while the other evaluation results were similar (p˃0.05). As a result, gait training should be included the rehabilitation program at early period because gait, balance and physical functions are affected in lower extremity burns. Considering the effects of gait training on the treadmill on symmetrical gait and balance, it may be preferable to overground gait training.