Functional capacity of post-Covid-19 patients: Impacts of a rehabilitation program

Abstract

Introduction: COVID-19 is an acute respiratory infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, potentially serious, highly transmissible and globally distributed. Pulmonary rehabilitation can contribute to the relief of symptoms and the improvement of the functional capacity of patients affected by the infection. Objective: To evaluate the effects of a rehabilitation program on the functional capacity of post-COVID-19 patients. Methods: This is an exploratory, experimental, descriptive research with a quantitative approach. The research took place at the post-COVID-19 Rehabilitation Outpatient Clinic, located at the University of Vale do Taquari - Univates. At the evaluation, the participants performed the following functional tests: the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), the manovacuometry, the 10-meter walk test (10MWT), the digital dynamometry, the Medical Research Council (MRC) dyspnea scale and the Post COVID-19 Functional Status Scale (PCFS). Subsequently, participants underwent a 12-week exercise-based rehabilitation protocol. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and comparisons were performed using the paired t test, considering the significance of p≤005. Results: After complying with the protocol, the patients showed an increase in the distance covered in the 6MWT, higher gait speed in the 10MWT, greater respiratory and peripheral muscle strength, lower dyspnea index and better functional status. Conclusion: The exercise-based outpatient rehabilitation program was able to improve the functional capacity of individuals with post-COVID-19 syndrome.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.56238/globalhealthprespesc-031