Range of motion of the shoulder performed while patient is anesthetized

Significant loss of shoulder range of motion (ROM) in the early stages of burn recovery is a common and frustrating complication of burn injury. Pain is a primary reason for decreased motion: it prevents the patient from cooperating in an aggressive therapy program that could minimize contracture formation. To combat loss of movement without inflicting severe pain, the performance of ROM exercises and gentle passive stretching while patients were anesthetized was used as a treatment. A total of 59 treatments were performed on 14 patients who had limited unilateral or bilateral shoulder motion. A significant gain in shoulder ROM was attained when this treatment was performed and resulted in an increase in shoulder ROM when the patient was alert after anesthesia compared with preanesthesia measurements.