Early Ambulation After Injury Is Associated With Increased Muscle Size and Strength

Jacob T. Higgins, Susan K. Frazier, Terry Lennie, Mary Kay Rayens, Jacob Avila

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Trauma and management of injuries can result in reduction or loss of mobility, which can lead to skeletal muscle deconditioning and sustained disability. Prior investigators have examined changes in skeletal muscle due to injury and immobility separately. The muscular consequences of combined immobility and trauma have not been systematically investigated. Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the association of time to first ambulation with skeletal muscle size and strength in patients after major trauma. Methods: Adults (N = 19) admitted for major trauma (Injury Severity Score [ISS] > 15) provided daily measures of muscle size (ultrasound) and strength (dynamometry) during hospitalization. Participants were grouped based on time to first ambulation. Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to compare muscle measures between the groups across 5 days while controlling for age and gender. Results: Participants were primarily male (63%) aged 40 ± 17 years with a mean ISS of 21 ± 4. Early ambulation was associated with a 10% increase from baseline in bicep size on Days 3 and 4 and a 15% increase from baseline on Day 5. There were no changes in rectus femoris size in either group. The early ambulation group was significantly stronger than the delayed ambulation group throughout the study in measures taken with the biceps (22%–37%) and quadriceps (26%–46%). Conclusion: Early ambulation following major trauma was associated with increased bicep size and greater muscle strength in the biceps and quadriceps muscles over time.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)527-535
Number of pages9
JournalBiological Research for Nursing
Volume22
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2020

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Future of Nursing Scholars Program (RWJF Grant ID# 72586, PI: T. Lennie, Scholar: J. Higgins).

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2020.

Keywords

  • ambulation
  • dynamometry
  • skeletal muscle
  • trauma
  • ultrasonography

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Research and Theory

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