Approximately one percent of the population in North America suffers from burns every year. However, information concerning the long-term functional recovery of burn survivors remains limited. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to examine the effects of burns on quadriceps muscle endurance and fatigue recovery by comparing healed major burn survivors with healthy matched individuals. Muscle endurance was measured by the number of intermittent submaximal isometric contractions completed during two standard fatigue protocols (SFPs). Recovery from fatigue was monitored for 10 minutes using the interpolated twitch technique. Parameters that were collected at baseline and post SFPs included maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) force, muscle activation level, twitch tension (Pt), compound muscle action potential (M-wave) amplitude, and activity of agonist (vastus medialis)/antagonist(biceps femoris) muscles. Results revealed a lower endurance level in major burn survivors than in matched individuals. The differential detrimental effects of fatigue on Pt and MVC force indicated excitation-contraction uncoupling as the major underlying cause of fatigue in both groups. In addition, neuromuscular propagation impairment, decreased muscle membrane excitability and increased antagonist activity may contribute to the decrease in force generating capacity in major burn survivors. Further research is needed to examine the residual physical limitations from major burn injuries and their effects on quality of life.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.21524 |
| Date | January 1999 |
| Creators | Chau, Sharon Wah-Lai, 1970- |
| Contributors | St.-Pierre, Diane (advisor) |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Master of Science (School of Physical and Occupational Therapy.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 001651478, proquestno: MQ50735, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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