Predictability of exercise capacity following pediatric burns: a preliminary investigation.

Forty-eight percent of participants did not achieve healthy reference values of exercise capacity and were therefore considered "at risk" for diminished functioning. Our preliminary conclusion that early assessment of exercise capacity with the SRT can timely identify those patients, needs to be strengthened by further research.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONPediatric burns can be considered as a chronic medical condition because of the lifelong consequences.Exercise capacity is reduced following- even minor -pediatric burns.Recovery patterns vary widely: some pediatric burn patients achieve healthy levels of exercise capacity without specific intervention, while others do not.The Steep Ramp Test can be used to assess exercise capacity, identifying those "at risk" for adverse outcomes at an early stage.Patients "at risk" should be encouraged to play sports and adopt an active lifestyle.