RESUMO
PURPOSE: to investigate the effectiveness of a 4-week combined progressive program on functional abilities, disability status and quality of life (QoL) in COVID-19 recovered patients. MATERIALS & METHODS: 18 COVID-19 recovered patients performed a combined rehabilitation treatment accounting for 12 sessions, including both respiratory and motor training sessions. A careful monitoring of exercise intensity, duration and progression to tailor complexity evolution on patients' competencies was carried out. Patients were monitored with different functional scales and self-reported questionnaires before (T0) and after (T1) rehabilitation. RESULTS: 6-Minutes Walk Test, Timed Up and Go Test and Short Physical Performance Battery significantly improved, while Physiological Cost Index presented a significant reduction after rehabilitation. Moreover, Barthel Index significantly improved and patients presented significantly increased upper and lower limbs strength at T1. Furthermore, mMRC Dyspnoea Scale presented a significant reduction after training. Finally, physical and psychological well-being scales improved according to Short-Form 36; while, self-reported questionnaires related to mood and depression showed no significant modification after rehabilitation. CONCLUSIONS: results evidenced the efficacy of the combined progressive intervention in COVID-19 recovered patients. The specific customization on patients' needs and the careful exercise monitoring promoted improvements on functional abilities and disability status, with positive impact on QoL.
Post-acute COVID-19 patients could require an adequate respiratory and neuromotor rehabilitation plan.Rehabilitative intervention should include a combined progressive training program.A 4-week progressive combined intervention seems effective in COVID-19 recovered patients.The specific customization on patients' needs and the careful exercise monitoring promotes improvements on functional abilities and disability status and patients' quality of life.
