Aquatic Training in Patients With Severe Scarring

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Aim: - to investigate the effects of an aquatic exercise program in patients with severe scars Patient population: 10 patients of at least 18 years old patients with scars after burns or other severe skin injuries stratification into two groups: an intervention group and a control group Method: 8 patients will participate in the aquatic exercise group and 2 patients in the control group assessment of physical fitness parameters, scar tissue and psychosocial impact Hypothesis: - patients of the aquatic exercise group will recover sooner and better (physically and psychologically) than patients of the control group

Detailed Description
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Intervention: - during 6 weeks patients will performed an aquatic exercise program (2 to 3 sessions a week) Assessment: T0: post-hospitalisation status: body mass index, physical fitness, strength and respiratory function T1: at baseline: body mass index, physical fitness, strength, respiratory function, exercise capacity, mobility, scar parameters and some questionnaires T2: after 6 weeks training: same measurements as T1 T3: 3 months after end of aquatic training: idem T1 T4: 6 months after end of aquatic training: questionnaires T5: 1 year after end of aquatic training: questionnaires

Official Title
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Aquatic Training in Patients With Severe Scarring

Conditions
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Burns, Scar

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Aquatic training


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: at least 18 years old hospitalisation at the burn unit of at least 14 days patients with severe skin damage (like burns, deglovements, necrotic fasciitis, ...) Exclusion Criteria: younger than 18 years psychiatric history (recommandation of psychiatrist not to participate in the study)

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Aquatic exercise group<br> | Other: Aquatic training<br>* Aquatic training during a 6 weeks program (15 to 18 sessions of 1 hour)<br>|
| No Intervention: Control group<br> | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in physical activity using Dynaport activity monitor | Post-hospitalisation status = participants will be followed during the last three consecutive days of their hospital stay. The minimum period of hospital stay is 14 days (inclusion criteria), the maximum period of hospital stay is not determined. The expected average can not be given. | Post-hospitalisation status, baseline, after 6 weeks, after 3 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Strength (Jamar, MicroFET, MIP) | Strength (Jamar, MicroFET, MIP) | Post-hospitalisation status, basline, after 6 weeks, after 3 months | 
| Quality of life (using 5 questionnaires like SF-36) | Quality of life (using 5 questionnaires like SF-36) | Basline, after 6 weeks, after 3 months | 
| Exercise capacity (6-minutes walking test and 4-minutes swimming test) | Exercise capacity (6-minutes walking test and 4-minutes swimming test) | Baseline, after 6 weeks and after 3 months | 
| BMI | BMI | Post-hospitalisation status, baseline, after 6 weeks and after 3 months | 
| Joint mobility | Joint mobility | Baseline, after 6 weeks, after 3 months | 
| Pulmonary function (FEV1 and FVC) | Pulmonary function (FEV1 and FVC) | Post-hospitalisation status, baseline, after 6 weeks, after 3 months | 
| Scar assessment | Scar assessment | Baseline, after 6 weeks, after 3 months | 
| Physical fitness using Squash questionnaire | Physical fitness using Squash questionnaire | Baseline, after 6 weeks, after 3 months, after 6 months, after 1 year |