Response of Aerobic Capacity to Low Level Laser Therapy in Burned Patients

Response of Aerobic Capacity to Low Level Laser Therapy in Burned Patients

Severe burns can decrease pulmonary function and impair aerobic capacity persisting for long times post injury. Low level laser therapy is a new modality used to improve aerobic capacity, enhance exercise performance, increase time until fatigue when used prior to aerobic exercises. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of pre- exercise low level laser therapy on aerobic capacity in burned patients.

Low level laser therapy has a beneficial therapeutic effect on promoting aerobic capacity, improving maximum oxygen consumption and increasing treadmill time when preceding aerobic exercise training.This study was conducted to determine the effects of pre- exercise low level laser therapy on aerobic capacity in burned patients. Low level laser therapy was applied to the study group for 12 weeks before aerobic exercises, three sessions / week, while control group received 12 weeks of aerobic exercises, three times weekly. Patients in both groups were received the traditional physical therapy program as a routine treatment. Aerobic capacity was assessed by measuring maximum oxygen consumption and time to exhaustion at baseline and after twelve weeks of interventions for both groups.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Sixty adult burned patients were selected under the following criteria:

  • Patients were both males and females.
  • Their age ranged from (25-40) years.
  • Patients suffered from second degree thermal burns with total body surface area(TBSA) for burns ranged from 20-40%.
  • Patients were participated in this study one month after their hospital discharge.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Cardiopulmonary diseases.
• Any limitation in range of motion (ROM) of joints of the lower limbs which may prevent adequate participation in aerobic exercise program.
• Leg amputation.
• Quadriplegia.
• Psychological illness or severe behavior or cognitive disorders.
• Patients who participated in any rehabilitation program before the study that may affect the results of the study.