Post-COVID-19 rehabilitation – a Polish pilot program

Abstract

The current spread of SARS-CoV-2 indicates a long-term fight against the widespread and exponential increase in morbidity and mortality across the globe. A variety of non-pharmacological strategies to mitigate and suppress virus transmission have been investigated and introduced. Currently, emerging studies focus mostly on the management of hospital-treated patients in the acute phase of the disease, including the legitimacy of using physiotherapeutic procedures. However, current literature lacks guidelines for rehabilitation related to maintaining continuity and universality of the therapy after the end of the acute phase of the disease and discharge from hospital. The authors suggest implementing an immediate rehabilitation program in post-infection patients as data from previous epidemics of respiratory-related viral diseases shows that COVID-19 survivors should be expected to have impaired lung ventilation function, and reduced exercise tolerance and muscular weakness, and prolonged return to work and participation. It should be assumed that only the introduction of immediate recommendations for the implementation of rehabilitation procedures based on simple and well-known tests, as well as their obligatory regime, can contribute to the reduction of respiratory disability leading, in a short time, to infections recurrence and, in the long run, to a lower quality of life and socioeconomic burden on the population. This article presents a respiratory rehabilitation program for COVID-19 survivors, recommended by the Polish Society of Physiotherapy. This program was approved by the Polish Minister of Health and implemented as a pilot program at the Hospital of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration in Głuchołazy, Poland. Med Pr. 2021;72

Application of an EMG-Rehabilitation Robot in Patients with Post-Coronavirus Fatigue Syndrome (COVID-19)—A Feasibility Study

“…As Yong [ 22 ] stated, among all of the available therapeutic options, only rehabilitation seems to be effective in the treatment of symptoms of Long-COVID. Many studies focus on Post-COVID symptoms or the need for rehabilitation [ 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 ] or propose guidelines and rehabilitation programs [ 40 , 41 , 42 ], but there is a distinct lack of studies assessing rehabilitation effectiveness in patients with PVF [ 12 , 43 ]. Udina et al [ 44 ] conducted a study on the effect of Post-COVID rehabilitation on COVID-19 survivors’ independence and physical performance.…”

Water-Based and Land-Based Exercise for Children with Post-COVID-19 Condition (postCOVIDkids)—Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

“…The program comprised of aerobic exercise (walking/treadmill-based), strength training of upper and lower limbs, and educational discussions. The Polish post-COVID-19 rehabilitation program for adults includes physical efficiency training on a cycle ergometer (up to the training heart rate), walking training, breathing exercises, general fitness exercises, resistance training, station training, and relaxation [ 52 ]. As there is currently no evidence examining the effect of exercise training in children with post-COVID-19 condition, the current study intervention has been designed based on the evidence for exercise training in adults, with modifications made to suit the younger age of participants.…”

Effectiveness of an Inpatient Virtual Reality-Based Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program among COVID-19 Patients on Symptoms of Anxiety, Depression and Quality of Life: Preliminary Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial

“…The authors’ pulmonary rehabilitation program was programmed based on previous experience in patients with COPD [ 13 ]. A comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation program for COVID-19 patients with combined treatment focused on exercise capacity increase, lung function restoration and mental health support, developed by a multidisciplinary team was introduced [ 14 ]. Based on the patient’s submaximal exercise tolerance test results, qualification for one of the respiratory physiotherapy models differing in therapy intensity was determined.…”