The Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC) offers a free online resource to educate the public regarding exercising after burn injury.
The hot topic module “Exercise After Burn Injury” features a suite of free resources, including videos, a fact sheet, and a narrated slide show, compiled to explain how exercise could help enhance recovery and quality of life for people who have experienced a burn injury.
“Many people who experience a burn injury aren’t sure how to get back into an exercise routine,” says Cindy Cai, PhD, co-project director of the MSKTC and principal researcher with American Institutes for Research, in a media release. “This suite of resources offers practical tips that can help burn survivors take the first step to getting back to physical activity.”
The 18-minute video included in the module features three burn survivors who share their experiences with exercising postinjury, along with the perspectives of health care professionals at the Boston-Harvard Burn Injury Model System (BHBIMS) center, who explain the importance of developing strategies for exercising after a burn injury.
“Physical activity is especially important to counteract the effects of hospitalization,” states Dr Jeffery Schneider, project director of the BHBIMS, in the release. “Exercise helps fight the deterioration of muscles that can result after prolonged immobility. Exercise can also help prevent infection, improve flexibility and lower the risk of developing scars or contractures. In addition, it can help breathing, make it easier to accomplish everyday activities and contribute to a sense of well-being.
The hot topic module resources are grounded in Burn Model Systems (BMS) research and clinical practice. BMS centers are funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research, per the release.
[Sources: Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center, Spaulding Rehabilitation Network]
