Open AccessTelerehabilitation is Effective to Recover Functionality and Increase Skeletal Muscle Mass Index in COVID-19 Survivors
Author(s) -
Jorge Cancino-López,
Patricio Zarricueta Vergara,
Bárbara Leyton Dinamarca,
Pedro Figueroa Contreras,
Luis Miño Cárcamo,
Nicolás Cartagena Ibarra,
Johana Soto-Sánchez
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
international journal of telerehabilitation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.273
H-Index - 3
ISSN - 1945-2020
DOI - 10.5195/ijt.2021.6415
Subject(s) - telerehabilitation , physical therapy , medicine , physical medicine and rehabilitation , body mass index , covid-19 , grip strength , skeletal muscle , elbow , telemedicine , surgery , health care , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty) , economics , economic growth
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.