A prospective exploratory study on the effects of Baduanjin exercise on cardiopulmonary and functional capacity in adults with severe burns

OBJECTIVE: To preliminarily explore the effects of Baduanjin exercise on cardiac function, pulmonary function, and functional capacity in adults with severe burns. METHODS: In this prospective, exploratory, non-randomized, controlled study, 32 adults with severe burns were assigned into a control group (standard burn rehabilitation, n = 16) or an exercise group (additional Baduanjin exercise, n = 16) based on preference. During the study, one patient in the control group withdrew due to the placement of a tissue expander; in the exercise group, one patient withdrew due to the placement of a tissue expander, and another was lost to follow-up. Finally, 15 patients were included in the control group and 14 in the exercise group. At rest, heart rate (HR), stroke volume (SV), respiratory rate (RR) and vital capacity (VC), as well as 6 min walk distance (6MWD) and upper limb function were measured before and after the intervention. Adherence and actual training frequency were recorded using rehabilitation diaries. RESULTS: No significant differences in baseline characteristics or pre-intervention indicators were found (all p > 0.05).After intervention, the exercise group showed significantly higher SV, VC, and 6MWD, and lower RR and Quick DASH scores than the control group (all p < 0.05), with no significant group difference in HR (p = 0.907). Multiple linear regression confirmed significant effects of Baduanjin on all outcomes (all p < 0.05). Adherence was comparable between groups (92.85% vs. 73.33%, p = 0.330), but actual training frequency was higher in the exercise group (34.64 ± 4.56 vs. 30.67 ± 5.71, p = 0.049). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study preliminarily suggest that Baduanjin exercise combining with standard burn rehabilitation may have positive effects on improving cardiopulmonary function and functional capacity in adults with severe burns. However, these conclusions require validation in future randomized controlled trials.