THE IMPROVEMENT OF FUNCTIONAL CONDITION AND THE IMPACT OF PHYSIOTHERAPY FOR RESIDUAL SYMPTOMS IN PATIENTS DIAGNOSED WITH POST-COVID SYNDROME

G. Misytė1, E. Lendraitienė1, I. Rimdeikienė1
1Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation, Kaunas, Lithuania

Background: In the scientific literature, the residual, recurrent, or intensifying symptoms of the COVID-19 infection have been studied in more detail and this clinical spectrum of symptoms has been named Post-COVID Syndrome. It has been observed that some patients complain of persisting or new symptoms such as fatigue, dyspnea, insomnia, brain fog, and decreased body balance even after several months of illness.

Purpose: The purpose was to evaluate the functional condition of patients diagnosed with Post-COVID syndrome and the effect of physiotherapy on residual effects.

Methods: We used the quantitative content analysis method and analyzed 60 patients diagnosed with Post-COVID Syndrome. The quality of life was measured using WHOQOL-BREF; evaluation of the heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and physical capacity was determined using the 6-Minute Walking Test; the body balance was assessed using Romberg and modified Romberg test; the grip strength was measured using a dynamometer. Respiratory functional status was evaluated using the Stange and Hench tests. The physiotherapy program was applied every day for four weeks. The results were estimated by a statistical data analysis made by IBM SPSS v.27.0. Results with values of p<0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results: 60 patients diagnosed with Post-COVID Syndrome were divided into two groups by age (20-45 (N=33) and 46-60 (N=27) years old). After 4 weeks of the physiotherapy program, the vital signs domain parameters showed significant (p<0.001) improvement. Quality of life in both groups increased (p<0.001). The increase in the respiratory function parameters for both groups at the end of the PT program were statistically significant (p<0.001). The increase in grip strength of both hands scores for both groups at the end of the treatment was statistically significant (p<0,001). Cardiovascular system endurance increased in both groups: the first group's 6MWT distance average increased 119,242(±42,461) m. as compared with the baseline, and the second group's 6MWT distance average increased 121,815(±48,336) m. Modified Romberg test results of both groups at the end of the PT program showed significant improvement (p<0.001).

Conclusions:
  1. In all participants diagnosed with the Post-COVID syndrome, quality of life improved (p<0,05), normalized and/or improved heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen uptake, respiratory rate, and body position control after the application of the physiotherapy program;
  2. Participants diagnosed with the Post-COVID syndrome improved physical performance, grip strength of both hands, and respiratory function after application of the physiotherapy program;
  3. The physiotherapy program applied to all participants diagnosed with the Post-COVID syndrome was effective and efficient and resulted in improvement of the functional condition, reduction, and/or disappearance of residual Post-COVID symptoms.

Implications: Results show the importance of physiotherapy during the rehabilitation process after COVID-19 disease. This research provides recommendations for assessment and physiotherapy treatment concepts for Post-COVID Syndrome.

Funding acknowledgements: Lithuanian University of Health Sciences
Faculty of Nursing

Keywords:
Post-COVID Syndrome
Post-COVID rehabilitation
COVID-19

Topics:
COVID-19


Did this work require ethics approval? Yes
Institution: Lithuanian University of Health Sciences
Committee: Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Centre of Bioethics
Ethics number: BEC-KN(B)-226

All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.

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