Abstract
Objective: Effectiveness of a 4-week telerehabilitation program including thoracic expansion exercises (TEE), non-specific general body exercises (NSGBE), and physical activity recommendations (PAR) which started at quarantine in individuals with acute mild-COVID-19 was investigated in current study.
Methods: This is a randomized controlled study which was performed between May 2021 and February 2022. Adult individuals with acute mild-COVID-19 were randomly grouped as training (TG) (telerehabilitation program under supervision for 3 days/week) and control (CG) (home program including TEE and PAR). Dyspnea (Modified Borg Scale and Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale), chronic fatigue (Checklist Individual Strength Questionnaire), anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), balance (Berg Functional Balance Scale) and lower body strength (a 30-s chair stand test) were evaluated remotely in the individuals before and after a 4-week follow-up.
Results: Baseline characteristics and balance scores were similar between groups (p>0.05). After 4-week from baseline, there were no significant differences in dyspnea, chronic fatigue, anxiety, depression, balance, and lower body strength between the groups (p>0.05). However, as dyspnea, chronic fatigue, anxiety, and depression scores decreased, lower body strength increased significantly within TG after follow-up (p<0.05). Dyspnea, chronic fatigue, and anxiety scores decreased while lower body strength increased significantly within CG after follow-up (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Dyspnea, severe fatigue, anxiety, and depression are commonly observed in individuals with mild-COVID-19 in the acute period. In these individuals, dyspnea perception, chronic fatigue, anxiety, depression, and functional performance improve after a 4-week light-intensity online tele-program applied either supervised or unsupervised. Mild exercises and PAR are safe and effective in these individuals.