1Senior lecturer, Ahmedabad Physiotherapy College, Bopal-Ghuma Road, Ghuma, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
2Former Principal, Government Physiotherapy College, Ahmedabad
3Medical Advisor, Intas Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Ahmedabad
*Corresponding author: Gira N Thakrar, Senior Lecturer, D2-506, Shree Darshan Apartment, Opp. Vishwakarma Temple, Chandlodia, Ahmedabad- 382481, Email: girathakrar25@yahoo.in
Online published on 19 June, 2015.
Joint contractures are the most common sequel of burn injury. Post burn axillary contracture interferes with and limits the shoulder joint movement mainly. The extent of the contracture can be controlled to some degree if an intensive and vigorous physical therapy program is initiated during the first few days of the acute phase and continued daily throughout all phases of burn care program. Functional impairment is a major threat during this period.
We selected 22 patients with acute shoulder burn injuries for our study. We conducted this longitudinal study at Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad. We gave physiotherapy treatment to each patient for 6 weeks; one session of 20 minutes every day for 6 days in a week. We analyzed range of motion of shoulder joint with goniometer, before starting treatment and after 6 weeks of physiotherapy. We applied paired t-test for all variables; i.e., shoulder flexion, abduction and external rotation.
Improvements in all variables were statistically significant (p < 0.001) which meant physiotherapy treatment given during acute stage led to improvement in range of motion of shoulder.
Loss of function and deformity are avoidable outcome of burn injury in most instances, provided there is an intervention in the early acute stage. This can preserve function and prevent or minimize deformities.
Post Burn Axillary Contracture, Stretching Exercise
