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Introduction. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is commonly associated with a vicious circle of sedentary lifestyle - deconditioning - muscular dysfunction. High-frequency neuromuscular electrostimulation has demonstrated beneficial effects among subjects with muscle weakness. This study aimed to evaluate the benefits of merging pulmonary rehabilitation program (PRP) with neuromuscular electrostimulation in patients with very severe COPD. Material and methods. The study included 38 males with clinically stable COPD, who were divided in 2 groups: group A-19 patients that underwent a PRP of 5 sessions/week for 4 weeks and group B-19 patients that underwent intercostal and lower extremity muscle electrostimulation (5 sessions/week for 4 weeks, 60 min /session) in association with the same type of PRP. Saint Georges’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), Modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale, spirometry, maximal inspiratory pressure (PImax) and maximal expiratory pressure (PEmax), six minutes walking test (6MWT) and bio-electrical impedance were examined before and after the intervention. Results. Electrostimulation applied in group B increased muscle mass (50.15 ± 0.61kg vs 53.97 ± 0.87kg, p<0.001)., PEmax (5.41 ± 0.25 vs post 6.79 ± 0.22, p<0.0003) and improved mMRC score (2.68 ± 0.15 vs 2.10 ± 0.15, p<0.0109), 6MWT (369.6 ± 10.77m vs post: 445.6 ± 6.03 m) and SGRQ (61.32 ± 1.83 vs. 44.95 ± 1.94, p<0.0001). In group B only SGRQ score (55.05 ± 1.32 vs. 50.05 ± 1.51, p=0.018) was improved after PRP. Conclusion. A protocol which combines PRP with neuromuscular electrical stimulation in patients with very severe forms of COPD, has grater beneficial effect on dyspnoea, exercise tolerance, muscle mass toning and quality of life, compared with PRP alone.

Background and Objectives: Consequences due to infection with SARS-CoV-2 virus can have a direct impact on skeletal muscle, due to the fact that both cardiac and skeletal muscle tissue show robust ACE2(angiotensin-converting enzyme 2) expression, suggesting a potential susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection in both types of tissues. From the articles analyzed we concluded that the musculoskeletal damage is firstly produced by the inflammatory effects, cytokine storm and muscle catabolism. However, myopathy, polyneuropathy and therapies such as corticoids were also considered important factors in muscle fatigue and functional incapacity. Pulmonary rehabilitation programs and early mobilization had a highly contribution during the acute phase and post-illness recovery process and helped patients to reduce dyspnea, increase the capacity of physical effort, overcome psychological disorders and improved the quality of their life. Materials and Methods: We have included in this review 33 articles that contain data on muscle damage following SARS-CoV-2 infection. We used the following keywords to search for articles: SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, muscle weakness, muscle disease, muscle fatigue, neurological disorders. As a search strategy we used PubMed, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews; Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects and Health Technology Assessment Database to collect the information. We also have chosen the most recent articles published in the last 5 years. Conclusions: Muscular damage, as well as the decrease in the quality of life, are often a consequence of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection through: systemic inflammation, corticotherapy, prolonged bed rest and other unknown factors. Pulmonary rehabilitation programs and early mobilization had a highly contribution during the acute phase and post-illness recovery process and helped patients to reduce dyspnea, increase the capacity of physical effort, overcome psychological disorders and improve the quality of their life.

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has had significant impacts on pulmonary function. This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate pulmonary function and structure in patients 40 days post-SARS-CoV-2 infection, employing an array of testing methodologies including spirometry, plethysmography, forced oscillometry, and CT scanning. It also sought to establish potential correlations between these metrics and evaluate if forced oscillometry could provide additional value in post-infective lung function assessment. A 40-day post-infection follow-up observational study was conducted involving 66 patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. The results revealed decreases in FVC and FEF25–75 with the increasing severity of COVID-19. Specifically, patients with severe symptoms exhibited statistically significant decreases in FVC (mean = 86.8) compared with those with mild symptoms (mean = 106.0; p = 0.018). The FEF25–75 showed a similar trend, with severe patients exhibiting a mean of 77.7 compared with 82.9 in the mild group (p = 0.017). Furthermore, resonant frequency (RF) increased with disease severity, with the severe group exhibiting a statistically significant increase (mean = 17.4) compared with the mild group (mean = 14.3; p = 0.042). CT scans showed an increase in ground-glass opacities with disease severity, with 81.8% of severe patients demonstrating this finding (p = 0.037). Multiple regression analysis revealed that Reactance at 4 Hz (X4), Forced Expiratory Flow 25–75% (FEF25–75), and Resonant Frequency (RF) were significantly related to COVID-19 severity. Specifically, for each unit increase in these factors, the risk of the event was estimated to increase by a factor of 3.16, 2.09, and 1.90, respectively. Conversely, Resistance at 4 Hz (R4) and Airway Resistance (RAW) were found to significantly decrease the event hazard, highlighting their potential protective role. Spirometry, plethysmography, and forced oscillometry are effective in assessing these changes. Forced oscillometry may be particularly beneficial in identifying subtle changes in lung function post-COVID-19. Further studies are warranted to validate these findings and develop strategies to manage post-infective pulmonary changes in SARS-CoV-2 patients.

The acute phase of COVID-19 often leaves patients with persistent pulmonary deficits. Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) has been recommended as an essential part of post-acute COVID-19 management. In light of the global pandemic, telerehabilitation has been increasingly employed to deliver PR. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of telemedicine-driven PR in patients recovering from the acute phase of COVID-19, assessing variations in telerehabilitation practices and identifying the degree of change in mental health, physical health, quality of life, and lung function. A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Scopus up until April 2023. Studies focusing on telerehabilitation in PR for post-acute COVID-19 patients with outcomes including pulmonary function, exercise capacity, and quality of life were included after careful assessment of this study’s protocol. The selection process involved careful scrutiny of abstracts and full texts, and the quality assessment was performed using the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) tool. Seven studies, published between 2021 and 2022, involving a total of 412 patients, were included. The evaluated telerehabilitation programs stretched between 4 and 10 weeks, involving a mobile app or video connection with the patient, integrating a mix of aerobic and resistance training, breathing exercises, functional activities, and muscle strengthening. Findings revealed that telemedicine-driven PR significantly improved physical health, measured by the step test score (73 vs. 71), 6MWD (30.2 vs. 17.1) and BPAQ, mental health evaluated by SF-12 (6.15 vs. 4.17) and PHQ-4, quality of life measured by the SF-12 (7.81 vs. 3.84), SGRQ (31.5 vs. 16.9), and CAT scores, and some parameters of pulmonary function in post-acute COVID-19 patients (mMRC, STST, and MVV). This review substantiates the potential of telemedicine-driven PR to improve various health outcomes in post-acute COVID-19 patients. The findings underscore the importance of integrating telerehabilitation into the management of post-acute COVID-19 and call for further exploration of its long-term effects, cost-effectiveness, and best practices.