International Journal of Telerehabilitation (Dec 2021)

Telerehabilitation is Effective to Recover Functionality and Increase Skeletal Muscle Mass Index in COVID-19 Survivors

  • Jorge Cancino-López,
  • Patricio Zarricueta Vergara,
  • Bárbara Leyton Dinamarca,
  • Pedro Figueroa Contreras,
  • Luis Miño Cárcamo, ,
  • Nicolás Cartagena Ibarra,
  • Johana Soto-Sánchez

DOI
https://doi.org/10.5195/ijt.2021.6415
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 2

Abstract

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Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a telerehabilitation program for COVID-19 survivors on their functionality, aerobic capacity, upper-lower body strength and skeletal muscle mass index. Methods: Fifty patients (22 M); age 54.1±15.4 who became ill with COVID-19 during 2020 completed a 24-session telerehabilitation program. The following measures were taken: Barthel’s index, two minutes step test (2MST), elbow flexion one-repetition maximal (1RM), short physical performance battery (SPPB), hand grip strength, 30-second chair stand, skeletal muscle index (SMI), body fat percentage, resting pulse, arterial blood pressure, and pulse oximetry. Results: There was a significant increase in the Barthel index (p?0.0001), 2MST (p?0.0001), 1RM elbow flexion (p?0.0001), SPPB (p?0.0001), hand grip strength (p?0.0001), 30-second chair stand (p?0.0001), and SMI (p?0.0001). Conclusion: A 24 session in-home telerehabilitation program promoted the recovery of physical independence and increases in skeletal muscle mass index and physical fitness.

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