Original Research Article
Year: 2020 | Month: October | Volume: 10 | Issue: 10 | Pages: 123-129
Effect of Pulmonary Telerehabilitation on Functional Capacity in COVID Survivors; an Initial Evidence
Siddhi Ghodge1, Prajakta Tilaye1, Shradha Deshpande2, Swati Nerkar1, Khyati Kothary3, Shweta Manwadkar4
1Assistant Professor, 2Associate Professor, 3Professor, 4Professor cum Principal,
K. J. Somaiya College of Physiotherapy, Mumbai.
Corresponding Author: Siddhi Ghodge
ABSTRACT
Objective: This retrospective case series is to see effect of pulmonary telerehabilitation on functional capacity in covid-19 survivors
Methods and materials: 10 (8 males, 2 females) participants were selected in this study based on inclusion criteria of post covid-19 survivors with respiratory system involvement, who underwent minimum 6 weeks of pulmonary telerehabilitation at least 3 days per week. Pulmonary telerehabilitation was given in the form of breathing exercises, incentive Spirometer, variety of aerobic and strengthening exercises, and patient education. Pre and post 6 weeks rehabilitation outcome measures of visual analogue scale (VAS) for fatigue, SPO2 using pulse oximeter, single breath count, one minute sit to stand test and one minute squat test were noted.
Statistics and results: The descriptive statistics were done. According to the normality analysis Wilcoxon sign rank test was assigned to non parametric data and Paired t test was assigned to parametric data. A p value of < 0.05 was considered significant.
Comparison between pre and post rehabilitation showed statistically significant changes in one minute sit to stand test (p=0.005), one minute squat test (p= 0.007), resting SPO2 (p=0.025), post exercise SPO2 (p=0.003), post exercise VAS for fatigue (p=0.017). No statistically significant difference was seen in the single breath count test (p= 0.415). Also, resting, post exercise SPO2 and VAS for fatigue showed clinically significant changes with large effect size.
Conclusion: Pulmonary telerehabilitation shows statistically and clinically significant improvement in functional capacity in covid survivors.
Key words: Pulmonary rehabilitation, telerehabilitation, covid survivors, functional capacity