Workers, especially healthcare workers, are exposed to an increased risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, less is known about the impact of rehabilitation on health outcomes associated with post-COVID. This longitudinal observational study examined the changes in physical and neuropsychological health and work ability after inpatient rehabilitation of 127 patients (97 females/30 males; age 21–69 years; Mean = 50.62) who acquired COVID-19 in the workplace. Post-COVID symptoms, functional status, physical performance, neuropsychological health, employment, and work ability were assessed before and after rehabilitation. Group differences relating to sex, professions, and acute COVID status were also analyzed. Except for fatigue, the prevalence of all post-COVID symptoms decreased after rehabilitation. Significant improvements in physical performance and neuropsychological health outcomes were determined. Moreover, healthcare workers showed a significantly greater reduction in depressive symptoms compared to non-healthcare workers. Nevertheless, participants reported poor work ability, and 72.5% of them were still unable to work after discharge from rehabilitation. As most participants were still suffering from the impact of COVID-19 at rehabilitation discharge, ongoing strategies in aftercare are necessary to improve their work ability. Further investigations of this study population at 6 and 12 months after rehabilitation should examine the further course of post-COVID regarding health and work ability status.
BackgroundIn 2020, the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) developed into a worldwide pandemic. The course of COVID-19 is diverse, non-specific, and variable: Affected persons suffer from physical, cognitive, and psychological acute and long-term consequences. The symptoms influence everyday life activities, as well as work ability in the short or long-term. Healthcare professionals are considered particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 compared to the general population. In Germany, COVID-19 is recognized as an occupational disease or a work-related accident under certain conditions. Disease-specific rehabilitation is recommended for patients following acute COVID-19 to recover physical and neuropsychological performance and to improve work ability. Currently, there are limited findings on the short-term or long-term impact of COVID-19 as a recognized occupational disease or work-related accident, as well as on rehabilitation programs and associated influencing factors. Thus, the present research project will investigate these questions.MethodsFor this observational cohort study, post-acute patients with COVID-19 as a recognized occupational disease or work-related accident according to the insurance regulations for COVID-19 will be recruited at the BG Hospital for Occupational Disease in Bad Reichenhall, Germany. All participants will complete a comprehensive multimodal and interdisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation program for a duration of at least 3 weeks, beginning after their acute COVID-19 infection and depending on their individual indication and severity of disease. Participants will complete medical, functional, motor, psychological, and cognitive measurements at four time points (at the beginning (T1) and end (T2) of inpatient rehabilitation; 6 (T3) and 12 (T4) months after the beginning of inpatient rehabilitation).DiscussionThe present research project will help to assess and describe long-term effects of COVID-19 as a recognized occupational disease or work-related accident on physical and neuropsychological health, as well as on everyday activities and work ability of affected insured persons. In addition, this study will investigate influencing factors on severity and course of COVID-19. Furthermore, we will examine rehabilitation needs, measures, occurring specifics, and the feasibility of the rehabilitation procedure and disease development in the patients. The results of the intended study will further advance common recommendations for targeted and tailored rehabilitation management and participation in inpatient rehabilitation.Clinical Trial Registrationwww.drks.de, identifier: DRKS00022928.
Zusammenfassung Hintergrund Physikalische Maßnahmen oder manualtherapeutische Techniken (MTTe) wie Mobilisationen, Manipulationen oder Weichteiltechniken führen zu einer Verbesserung des Metabolismus oder einer Senkung hypertoner Muskulatur und werden auch zur Balanceregulierung bei zentralnervösen Veränderungen des autonomen Nervensystems (ANS) eingesetzt. Bisher fehlen empirische Erkenntnisse über Wirkungsmechanismen und Reizorte von MTTe auf das ANS. Das Ziel dieses vorliegenden Scoping Reviews war es, einen Überblick zu geben über den Erkenntnisstand der Anwendung von MTTe auf diverse Niveaus der Wirbelsäule auf das ANS. Methode Als Grundlage für die Durchführung des Scoping Reviews dienten die Datenbanken CENTRAL, Osteopathic Research Web, PEDro und PubMed. Umfang und Inhalte der Literatur wurden dokumentiert. Die Ergebnisse der einbezogenen und herangezogenen Studien wurden in narrativer Weise zusammengefasst, wobei der Fokus auf den signifikantesten klinischen Aspekten lag. Ergebnisse Manipulationen, Mobilisationen, myofasziale Techniken und zervikale Traktionen wurden als MTTe definiert. In 27 von 35 Studien wurden gesunde Probanden therapeutisch behandelt. Zehn Studien analysierten unmittelbare Effekte an Patienten, während 2 Studien als Longitudinalstudie bei Bluthochdruckpatienten konzipiert waren. In einem Zeitraum von 4–8 Wochen betrug die Interventionshäufigkeit wöchentlich zwischen einer und 3 MTTe-Einheiten. Schlussfolgerung Die Studienergebnisse erweisen sich als heterogen. Aus diesem Grund lassen sich keine verbindlichen, eindeutigen und allgemeingültigen Aussagen ableiten, in welcher Form, Intensität sowie in welchem Umfang MTTe angewendet werden sollen, um gezielt positive Wirkungsmechanismen am ANS in Gang zu setzen. Für zukünftige Studien sind demzufolge Longitudinalstudien mit Follow-up empfehlenswert. Darüber hinaus sollten umfassende Effekte von MTTe bei Patientengruppen mit unterschiedlichen Ausprägungen untersucht werden.
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