A COVID-19 Rehabilitation Prospective Surveillance Model for Use by Physiotherapists

Abstract

The long-term sequelae of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are only now beginning to be defined, but it is already known that the disease can have direct and indirect impacts mainly on the cardiorespiratory and neuromuscular systems and may affect mental health. A role for rehabilitation professionals from all disciplines in addressing COVID-19 sequelae is recognised, but it is essential that patient assessment be systematic if health complications are to be identified and treated and, if possible, prevented. The aim is to present a COVID-19 prospective surveillance model based on sensitive and easily used assessment tools, which is urgently required. Following the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine Level of Evidence Tool, an expert team in cardiorespiratory, neuromuscular and mental health worked via telemeetings to establish a model that provides guidelines to rehabilitation professionals working with patients who require rehabilitation after suffering from COVID-19. A COVID-19 prospective surveillance model is proposed for use by rehabilitation professionals and includes both face-to-face and telematic monitoring components. This model should facilitate the early identification and management of long-term COVID-19 sequelae, thus responding to an arising need.

Musculoskeletal physiotherapy in physical sequelae of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection: A case report

“…Within clinical practice, successful treatments based on musculoskeletal physiotherapy have been observed in patients with joint injuries (Cools et al., 2016) and musculotendinous (Sherry et al., 2015). Recently, these treatments have also been recommended in post‐Covid‐19 patients (Postigo‐Martin et al., 2021). However, the details of the interventions and the evolution of the responses are scarce.…”

Postural balance and its association with functionality and quality of life in non‐hospitalized patients with post‐acute COVID‐19 syndrome

“…A possible explanation for the non‐significant difference we found in HGS is that we did not include patients who required hospitalization or ICU admission. In fact, PCS survivors who are hospitalized or critically ill in the ICU may develop significant muscle loss with impaired muscle function (Greve et al., 2020 ; Postigo‐Martin et al., 2021 ).…”

Physiotherapeutic evaluation of patients with post COVID-19 condition: current use of measuring instruments by physiotherapists working in Austria and South Tyrol

“…Previous studies indicate that a relatively high number (10-20%) of COVID-19 patients suffer from at least one symptom weeks to months after the first symptom onset [4,10,21,31] and an increase in patients with post COVID-19 condition is expected [5,6].…”

“…In a high number of COVID-19 survivors, persistent symptoms are reported even weeks or months after the acute infection, which are classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as "post COVID-19 condition" [2][3][4]. Also, the number of people who need treatment due to post COVID-19 condition is assumed to be rising [5,6]. Since January 2021, the ICD-10 (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision) catalogue of the WHO includes a separate diagnosis code for post COVID-19 condition, namely U09.9 [7].…”

“…Since only the first interim recommendations existed [25], no physiotherapeutic standardized assessments were yet implemented into outpatient rehabilitation practice to directly evaluate patients with post COVID-19 condition. Regardless, there exist a number of known and validated measuring instruments that could adequately capture common symptoms on the one hand and functional abilities and participation on the other [6,[8][9][10][48][49][50]. Where and how these secondary assessments are currently included in the outpatient physiotherapeutic practice remains unknown.…”