Emergence of Tele-rehabilitation during COVID-19: A Case Report of a Survivor with Multiple Co-morbidities

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) survivors experience impaired pulmonary function, reduced muscle strength, and exercise intolerance affecting their activities of daily living. Literature has demonstrated a need for multi-disciplinary approach for their faster recovery. In a pandemic like situation where maintaining social distancing to reduce the risk of transmission had become a norm, telerehabilitation services came to a great rescue of both the patients and health-care providers. At present, there are not any established guidelines for rendering pulmonary rehabilitation through telerehabilitation (TR). Besides, it's effective implementation depends on numerous patient-centric factors such as age, hemodynamic stability, presence of comorbidities, availability of resources, and cognitive level of the patient. We hereby present the case of a 69-year-old female diagnosed with COVID-19 with prolonged hospital stay, having a history of multiple co-morbidities, focusing on the role of 12 weeks of TR in improving her functional outcomes.

Keywords

• comorbidity
• coronavirus disease 2019
• tele-rehabilitation