ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Current evidence suggests that up to 70% of COVID-19 survivors develop post-COVID symptoms during the following months after infection. Fatigue and dyspnea seem to be the most prevalent post-COVID symptoms. OBJECTIVE: To analyze whether a tele-rehabilitation exercise program is able to improve self-perceived physical exertion in patients with post-COVID fatigue and dyspnea. METHODS: Sixty-eight COVID-19 survivors exhibiting post-COVID fatigue and dyspnea derived to four Primary Health Care centers located in Madrid were enrolled in this quasi-experimental study. A tele-rehabilitation program based on patient education, physical activity, airway clearing, and breathing exercise interventions was structured on eighteen sessions (3 sessions/week). Self-perceived physical exertion during daily living activities, dyspnea severity, health-related quality of life and distance walked and changes in oxygen saturation and heart rate during the 6-Minute walking test were assessed at baseline, after the program and at 1- and 3-months follow-up periods. RESULTS: Daily living activities, dyspnea severity and quality of life improved significantly at all follow-ups (p<0.001). Additionally, a significant increase in oxygen saturation before and after the 6-Minute Walking test was found when compared with baseline (P<0.001). Heart rate adaptations at rest were found during the follow-up periods (P = 0.012). Lower perceived exertion before and after the 6-Minute Walking test were also observed, even if larger distance were walked (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Tele-rehabilitation programs could be an effective strategy to reduce post-COVID fatigue and dyspnea in COVID-19 survivors. In addition, it could also reduce the economic burden of acute COVID-19, reaching a greater number of patients and releasing Intensive Unit Care beds for prioritized patients with a severe disease. STUDY REGISTRATION: The international OSF Registry registration link is https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/T8SYB.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Quality of Life , COVID-19/epidemiology , Dyspnea/etiology , Dyspnea/rehabilitation , Fatigue/etiology , Humans , Physical Exertion , Primary Health Care , SurvivorsABSTRACT
Objetivo: Evaluar la experiencia de un programa de educación para la salud en atención primaria en pacientes con dolor de hombro crónico de origen musculoesquelético, sobre el dolor y la discapacidad e instaurar el protocolo en atención primaria. Diseño: Estudio observacional descriptivo longitudinal quasi-experimental. Emplazamiento: Centro de Salud Arroyo de la Vega. Alcobendas, Madrid. Participantes: Pacientes remitidos por su médico de atención primaria a la unidad de fisioterapia de atención primaria por dolor de hombro de origen musculoesquelético. Intervención: Siete sesiones grupales de educación para la salud y ejercicio terapéutico. Mediciones principales: Se valoró la intensidad del dolor a través de la escala visual analógica, la discapacidad del miembro superior con el cuestionario Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand y el nivel de discapacidad y dolor de hombro con el questionario Shoulder Pain and Disability Index. Resultados: Se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en la reducción del dolor y la discapacidad (p<0,01), además se redujo el consumo de fármacos y las recidivas. Conclusiones: El protocolo de fisioterapia de hombro con educación para la salud fue eficaz para reducir el dolor y la discapacidad en pacientes con dolor de hombro crónico, de origen musculoesquelético, en atención primaria.(AU)
Objective: To evaluate the experiencie with a health education program in Primary Care in patients with chronic shoulder pain of musculoskeletal origin, on pain and disability and establish the protocol in primary care. Design: Quasi-experimental longitudinal descriptive observational study. Location: Arroyo de la Vega Health Center, Alcobendas, Madrid. Participants: Patients referred by their Primary Care Physician to the Primary Care Physiotherapy Unit for shoulder pain of musculoskeletal origin. Intervention: 7 group sessions of health education and therapeutic exercise. Main measurements: Pain intensity was assessed through the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), the disability of the upper limb with the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire and the level of disability and shoulder pain with the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) questionnaire. Results: Statistically significant differences were found in the reduction of pain and disability (P<.01), in addition, drug use and recurrences were reduced. Conclusions: The shoulder physiotherapy protocol with health education was effective in reducing pain and disability in patients with chronic shoulder pain of musculoskeletal origin in Primary Care.(AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Middle Aged , Aged , Physical Therapy Modalities , 35170 , Chronic Pain , Musculoskeletal Pain , Shoulder/surgery , Shoulder Pain/surgery , Shoulder Pain/therapy , Shoulder Injuries/complications , Shoulder Injuries/surgery , Comprehensive Health Care , Primary Health Care , Disease Prevention , Preventive Health ServicesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the experiencie with a health education program in Primary Care in patients with chronic shoulder pain of musculoskeletal origin, on pain and disability and establish the protocol in primary care. DESIGN: Quasi-experimental longitudinal descriptive observational study. LOCATION: Arroyo de la Vega Health Center, Alcobendas, Madrid. PARTICIPANTS: Patients referred by their Primary Care Physician to the Primary Care Physiotherapy Unit for shoulder pain of musculoskeletal origin. INTERVENTION: 7 group sessions of health education and therapeutic exercise. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Pain intensity was assessed through the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), the disability of the upper limb with the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire and the level of disability and shoulder pain with the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) questionnaire. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found in the reduction of pain and disability (P<.01), in addition, drug use and recurrences were reduced. CONCLUSIONS: The shoulder physiotherapy protocol with health education was effective in reducing pain and disability in patients with chronic shoulder pain of musculoskeletal origin in Primary Care.