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The Effectiveness of a Four-Week Digital Physiotherapy Intervention to Improve Functional Capacity and Adherence to Intervention in Patients with Long COVID-19

Author

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  • María-José Estebanez-Pérez

    (Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Science, University of Malaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain)

  • José-Manuel Pastora-Bernal

    (Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Science, University of Malaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain)

  • Rocío Martín-Valero

    (Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Science, University of Malaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain)

Abstract

Long COVID-19 has been defined as the condition occurring in individuals with a history of probable or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, with related symptoms lasting at least 2 months and not explainable by an alternative diagnosis. The practice of digital physiotherapy presents itself as a promising complementary treatment method to standard physiotherapy, playing a key role in the recovery of function in subjects who have passed the disease and who maintain some symptomatology over time. The aims of this research are to explore the effect of a digital physiotherapy intervention on functional recovery in patients diagnosed with Long COVID-19 and to identify the level of adherence to the treatment carried out. A quasi-experimental pre-post study assessed initially and at the end of the 4-week intervention the functional capacity (1-min STS and SPPB) and the adherence (software) of a total of 32 participants. After the 4-week digital physiotherapy practice intervention with an individualised and customise exercise programme, a statistically significant improvement was observed ( p < 0.05) with a small to medium effect size, high adherence rates and values above the minimal clinically important difference (MCID). We consider our intervention feasible, safe and consistent with our objectives. However, further randomised clinical trials and studies with larger samples are needed to draw extrapolable conclusions. Trial registration NCT04742946.

Suggested Citation

  • María-José Estebanez-Pérez & José-Manuel Pastora-Bernal & Rocío Martín-Valero, 2022. "The Effectiveness of a Four-Week Digital Physiotherapy Intervention to Improve Functional Capacity and Adherence to Intervention in Patients with Long COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-16, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:15:p:9566-:d:879723
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. José-Manuel Pastora-Bernal & María-José Estebanez-Pérez & Guadalupe Molina-Torres & Francisco-José García-López & Raquel Sobrino-Sánchez & Rocío Martín-Valero, 2021. "Telerehabilitation Intervention in Patients with COVID-19 after Hospital Discharge to Improve Functional Capacity and Quality of Life. Study Protocol for a Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-12, March.
    2. Antoni Sisó-Almirall & Pilar Brito-Zerón & Laura Conangla Ferrín & Belchin Kostov & Anna Moragas Moreno & Jordi Mestres & Jaume Sellarès & Gisela Galindo & Ramon Morera & Josep Basora & Antoni Trilla , 2021. "Long Covid-19: Proposed Primary Care Clinical Guidelines for Diagnosis and Disease Management," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-20, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kirsten McEwan & Harriet Collett & Jean Nairn & Jamie Bird & Mark A. Faghy & Eric Pfeifer & Jessica E. Jackson & Caroline Cook & Amanda Bond, 2022. "The Feasibility and Impact of Practising Online Forest Bathing to Improve Anxiety, Rumination, Social Connection and Long-COVID Symptoms: A Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-12, November.
    2. Valeska Gatica-Rojas & Ricardo Cartes-Velásquez, 2023. "Telerehabilitation in Low-Resource Settings to Improve Postural Balance in Older Adults: A Non-Inferiority Randomised Controlled Clinical Trial Protocol," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(18), pages 1-13, September.

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