Effects of propranolol and exercise training in children with severe burns.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate whether propranolol administration blocks the benefits induced by exercise training in severely burned children.

STUDY DESIGN

Children aged 7-18 years (n = 58) with burns covering ≥30% of the total body surface area were enrolled in this randomized trial during their acute hospital admission. Twenty-seven patients were randomized to receive propranolol, whereas 31 served as untreated controls. Both groups participated in 12 weeks of in-hospital resistance and aerobic exercise training. Muscle strength, lean body mass, and peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak) were measured before and after exercise training. Paired and unpaired Student t tests were used for within and between group comparisons, and χ(2) tests for nominal data.

RESULTS

Age, length of hospitalization, and total body surface area burned were similar between groups. In both groups, muscle strength, lean body mass, and VO2 peak were significantly greater after exercise training than at baseline. The percent change in VO2 peak was significantly greater in the propranolol group than in the control group (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Exercise-induced enhancements in muscle mass, strength, and VO2 peak are not impaired by propranolol. Moreover, propranolol improves the aerobic response to exercise in massively burned children.