Telerehabilitation is a great alternative to offering care during a global pandemic. 85% of patients with COVID-19 report persistent symptoms up to 8 months after the infection. There are no clear recommendations for post-covid rehabilitation. The aims of the study are (1) to test the logistic aspect of implanting a hybrid rehabilitation program and (2) to evaluate the acceptability and the potential impact of the program on treating patients with functional limitations and persistent fatigue symptoms. It's a pre and post-study without a control group.
Telerehabilitation is a great alternative to offering care during a global pandemic. 85% of patients with COVID-19 report persistent symptoms up to 8 months after the infection. There are no clear recommendations for post-covid rehabilitation. The aims of the study are (1) to test the logistic aspect of implanting a hybrid rehabilitation program and (2) to evaluate the acceptability and the potential impact of the program on treating patients with functional limitations and persistent fatigue symptoms. It's a pre and post-study without a control group. The intervention will be based on cardiopulmonary rehabilitation principles and will be administered for 12 weeks. Fatigue, post-exertional malaise, and functional/exercise capacities will be evaluated.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
7
The intervention consists of a hybrid program. The participant will receive rehabilitation sessions in presence (aerobic component of the intervention based on maximal oxygen uptake measured before intervention by means on a ergospirometric test) and at home via a telerehabilitation platform. The length of the intervention is 12 weeks. For the in-presence sessions, they are going to be 75 minutes, 2x/week. For the at-distance sessions, they are going to be 45 minutes, 1x/week in groups of 3 to 4 participants. The intervention will consist of a warm-up, endurance, postural, and strengthening exercises, cool down and respiratory exercises. An exercise book with final recommendations is provided to the participants at the end of the intervention.
Université de Sherbrooke
Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
The feasibility of the program
This will be evaluated by % of participants that accept to participate in the study (recruitment rate), % who completed the intervention (retention rate) and % completed session/anticipated session (adherence). The security of the program will be evaluated by the number of falls or near fall. Technical difficulty
Time frame: 12 weeks
Acceptability
The satisfaction of the participants will be evaluated with a questionnaire (14 questions). The questionnaire will assess patients' satisfaction with the professional, the services and the organization - Telemedicine Satisfaction. Qualitative open-ended questions will be used to determine appreciation and challenges encountered.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Fatigue and post-exercise malaise
This will be evaluated with the Fatigue severity scare and De Paul Symptom Questionnaire.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Heart rate variability (resting)
Measured with the POLAR H10
Time frame: 12 weeks
Functional capacity
Strength, assistance with walking, rising from a chair, climbing stairs, and falls questionnaire (SARC-F)
Time frame: 12 weeks
Exercise capacity
6-minute walk test
Time frame: 12 weeks
Lower-limb endurance (estimated)
1-minute sit-to-stand test
Time frame: 12 weeks
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