Effects of Short-Term Physiotherapy in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients Infected with Mutant and Non-Mutant Virus: A Prospective Study

Abstract

Aim: The aim of study, to assess the short term effects of physiotherapy on patients infected with mutant and non-mutant SARS-CoV-2 virus. Material and Methods: The patients included in the study were analyzed in two different groups. Patients infected with non-mutant SARS-CoV-2 were in Group 1 (n=16; age=53.81±9.48). Patients infected with mutant SARS-CoV-2 were included in Group 2 (n=16; age=55.25±10.12). Physiotherapy which included mobilization, normal range of motion, and a breathing exercise program, was performed on both groups (Group 1: Median=7.00; Min-Max=5-20 days; Group 2: Median: 7.00; Min-Max=4-15 days). All patients underwent a once-daily physiotherapy program. The patients' muscle strength, mobility, activities of daily living, exercise capacity, and perception of fatigue were evaluated. The mixed repeated measures ANOVA model was used to compare groups. Results: It was found that physiotherapy improved muscle strength, mobility, ability to perform activities of daily living, exercise capacity, and perception of fatigue in both groups (p<0.05). Additionally, results for the evaluations including muscle strength (p=0.791), ADL (p=0.410), and mobility (p=0.124) were similarly favorable in both groups. There was no significant change in heart rate and SpO2 after the intervention in both group (p>0.05). Conclusion: The current study showed that a short term physiotherapy program was as successful in patients infected with mutant SARS-CoV-2 as it was in patients infected with non-mutant SARS-CoV-2. Physiotherapy is beneficial for COVID-19 disease, as it decreases functional limitation and symptoms of COVID-19 disease by contributing positively to muscle strength, mobility, activities of daily living, exercise capacity, and the perception of fatigue.

Keywords

• Physical Therapy Modalities
• COVID-19
• fatigue
• early ambulation

Hastanede Yatan Mutant ve Mutant Olmayan Virus ile Enfekte COVID-19 Hastalarında Kısa Süreli Fizyoterapinin Etkileri: Prospektif Bir Çalışma

Abstract

Amaç: Çalışmanın amacı, mutant ve mutant olmayan SARS-CoV-2 virüsü ile enfekte hastalar üzerinde fizyoterapinin kısa süreli etkilerini değerlendirmektir. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Çalışmaya dahil edilen hastalar 2 farklı grupta analiz edildi. Mutasyona uğramamış SARS-CoV-2 ile enfekte hastalar Grup 1'deydi (n=16; yaş=53,81±9,48). Mutasyona uğramış SARS-CoV-2 ile enfekte hastalar ise Grup 2’de (n=16; yaş=55,25±10,12) yer aldı. Her iki gruba da mobilizasyon, normal hareket açıklığı ve solunum egzersiz programını içeren fizyoterapi uygulandı (Grup 1: Medyan=7.00; Min-Max=5-20 gün; Grup 2: Medyan: 7.00; Min-Max=4-15 gün). Tüm hastalara günde bir kez fizyoterapi programı uygulandı. Hastaların kas kuvveti, mobilitesi, günlük yaşam aktiviteleri, egzersiz kapasitesi ve yorgunluk algısı değerlendirildi. Grupları karşılaştırmak için karma desenli tekrarlanan ölçümler ANOVA modeli kullanıldı. Bulgular: Fizyoterapinin her iki grupta da kas kuvveti, mobilite, günlük yaşam aktivitelerini gerçekleştirme yeteneği, egzersiz kapasitesi ve yorgunluk algısını iyileştirdiği bulundu (p<0,05). Ek olarak, kas kuvveti (p=0,791), günlük yaşam aktiviteleri (p=0,410) ve mobilite (p=0,124) gibi değerlendirmelerin sonuçları da her iki grupta da benzer şekilde olumluydu. Her iki grupta da tedaviden sonra kalp hızı ve SpO2'de anlamlı bir değişiklik olmamıştır. Sonuç: Mevcut çalışma, kısa süreli fizyoterapi programının mutasyona uğramış SARS-CoV-2 ile enfekte hastalarda, mutasyona uğramamış SARS-CoV-2 ile enfekte hastalarda olduğu kadar başarılı olduğunu göstermiştir. Fizyoterapi, kas kuvveti, mobilite, günlük yaşam aktiviteleri, egzersiz kapasitesi ve yorgunluk algısına olumlu katkı sağlayarak COVID-19 hastalığının fonksiyonel kısıtlılığını ve semptomlarını azalttığı için COVID-19 hastalığında faydalıdır.

Keywords

• Fizik tedavi modaliteleri
• COVID-19
• yorgunluk
• erken ambulasyon

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