Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2026, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (5): 1269-1281.doi: 10.12307/2026.016

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Physical exercise improves physical function in burn patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Chen Qiang1, Wu Wenjuan2, Jiang Shuhua3, Huang Da1   

  1. 1School of Physical Education, 3School of Culture and Media, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Nanchang 330098, Jiangxi Province, China; 2School of Physical Education, Nanchang Institute of Science and Technology, Nanchang 330108, Jiangxi Province, China
  • Received:2024-11-26 Accepted:2025-01-24 Online:2026-02-18 Published:2025-06-27
  • Contact: Huang Da, Master, Lecturer, School of Physical Education, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Nanchang 330098, Jiangxi Province, China
  • About author:Chen Qiang, Master, Associate professor, School of Physical Education, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Nanchang 330098, Jiangxi Province, China
  • Supported by:
    Humanities and Social Sciences Research Project of Universities in Jiangxi Province, No. JC23204 (to CQ) 

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Some studies have shown that physical exercise can effectively improve knee extensor strength and cardiorespiratory function in burn patients; some studies have also shown that physical exercise is not effective in improving respiratory function in burn patients. Improvement effects of physical exercise on physical functions (muscle function, walking function, cardiopulmonary function, and lean body mass) of burn patients were evaluated by a systematic evaluation and meta-analysis.
METHODS: Based on databases including Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, WanFang, and the Chinese Biomedical Database, literature on the improvement of physical function in burn patients through physical exercise was searched using subject headings and free terms. With muscle function, walking ability, cardiopulmonary function, and lean body mass as the primary outcome measures, a meta-analysis was conducted to compare the efficacy of physical exercise with traditional physical therapy or conventional care methods.
RESULTS: A total of 38 papers were included, of which 26 papers were included in the meta-analysis, involving 1 658 patients. Meta-analysis results showed that: (1) Physical exercise significantly enhances the knee extensor strength of the dominant leg in burn patients (mean difference [MD]=8.34, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.95-9.72, P < 0.000 01), increases quadriceps strength, peak oxygen uptake, forced vital capacity and maximum ventilation volume in 1 second, and resting heart rate (standardized mean difference [SMD]=4.41, 95% CI: 2.52-6.30, P < 0.000 01; MD=4.91, 95% CI: 3.52-6.29, P < 0.000 01; MD=5.86, 95% CI: 0.09-11.63, P=0.05; MD=6.90, 95% CI: 2.93-10.87, P=0.000 7; MD=5.03, 95% CI: 1.45-8.61, P=0.006), and improves the 6-minute walking distance, gait parameters, and total lean body mass (MD=45.29, 95% CI: 24.7-65.89, P < 0.0001; SMD=7.84, 95% CI: 6.05-9.63, P < 0.000 01; MD=2.47, 95% CI: 2.01-2.93, P < 0.000 01). (2) The subgroup analysis results indicated that the improvement in knee extensor strength of the dominant leg may be better in children than in adults and better in the extra-heavy group than in the heavy group. Improvement in the 6-minute walking distance is better in children than in adults, and higher degree of burn indicates better improvement effects, with no difference from the control group for < 12 weeks. Peak oxygen uptake may be better in adults and severe burn groups than in children and moderate burn groups, resistance combined with aerobic exercise modalities may be better than aerobic exercise alone, and exercise duration > 60 minutes may be better than < 60 minutes.
CONCLUSION: Physical activity is effective in improving physical function in burn patients, as evidenced by improvements in muscle strength, walking ability, cardiorespiratory fitness, and lean body mass. The quality of evidence recommended for all indicator results is moderate or below, with imprecision and inconsistency being the main factors for downgrading. Therefore, more high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed in the future to verify the reliability of the results.

Key words: physical exercise, resistance exercise, aerobic exercise, burn patients, dysfunction, physical function, muscle function, cardiorespiratory function, rehabilitation effect, systematic evaluation, meta-analysis

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