Efficacy of Two Therapeutic Exercise Modalities for Patients With Persistent COVID

Efficacy of Two Therapeutic Exercise Modalities for Patients With Persistent COVID: Pilot Study

Symptoms of long-standing sequelae and complications of COVID-19, termed Long COVID19 or persistent COVID, have been reported worldwide. However, the etiology underlying the prolonged or fluctuating symptomatology is limited and there is no uniform and widely accepted definition.Patients describe persistent COVID as a fluctuating disease with variable and persistent symptoms.Most of the effects correspond to clinical symptoms such as fatigue, headache, arthralgias, hyposmia, gustatory sensations, etc. Fatigue is the most common and prolonged symptom of persistent COVID. Knowledge of the pathophysiological mechanisms of fatigue in COVID-19 disease, as well as the therapeutic approach, remains limited due to the relatively recent onset of this pathology. In particular, muscle strength training has been shown to improve muscle function and fatigue, not only during treatment, but also at long-term follow-up.

Objective: To evaluate the effects on the perception of fatigue in patients with persistent COVID, who undergo a supervised and directed therapeutic exercise program in a health center compared to a home therapeutic exercise program.

Methods: Randomized pilot study. Subjects who are included in the study will perform a therapeutic exercise program which will last 8 weeks and 2 sessions per week of 1h duration. The participants assigned to the supervised group will carry out the program at the health center, while the participants assigned to the home group will receive telematic supervision (by videoconference). Both groups will be under the supervision of the assigned physiotherapist.

The components that will form part of the exercise program will be: muscular strength training and continuous-variable aerobic training or HIIT type with loads between 70-90% of maximum heart rate. The main variables are fatigue.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult patients diagnosed with LongCOVID19 or persistent COVID19.
• Agree to participate and sign the informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with comorbidities associated with having fatigue (e.g. cancer survivors, severe cardiovascular or respiratory disease prior to persistent COVID).
• Taking medication of drugs that may interfere with the perception of fatigue.
• Patients with mental disorders or cognitive impairment prior to persistent COVID.
• Patients who regularly practice intense sports (>4h/week).
• Any illness that may condition understanding and compliance with the study.