The aim of the study is to investigate the potential effects of face-to-face supervised tele-rehabilitation to home exercise program on walking speed, handgrip strength, muscle endurance, quality of life, physical activity level and perceived respiratory disability in COVID-19 patients who hospitalized in ICU due to ARDS and discharged from hospital.
COVID-19 could cause respiratory distress in a minority of cases and requires intensive care
and mechanical ventilation. When patients recover and are discharged from hospital, physical,
cognitive and emotional complications known as post-intensive care syndrome is seen in the
majority of patients and requires rehabilitation.
Pulmonary rehabilitation is a comprehensive intervention consists of assessment of patient,
exercise training and education in order to improve physical and psychological condition of
people with chronic respiratory disease.
The patients with COVID-19 with post-intensive care syndrome will be randomized two groups:
Tele-rehabilitation group and home exercise group. There will not be a non-exercising control
group due to the ethical issues. The exercise program of both groups will be prescribed by a
physiatrist based on the physical examination and the functional capacity of the patients.
Tele-rehabilitation group will perform the exercise program 3 days/week for 10 weeks. One
session will include aerobic, flexibility and strengthening exercises for lower and upper
extremity and breathing exercise.
The trainings will start with low-intensity exercises and intensity and duration of the
exercises will progress according to the condition of the patient.
Intensity of the exercises will be monitored by Borg scale based on dyspnea and exertion
symptoms during the sessions.
Home exercise group will perform the exercises at their home on their own, 3 days/week for 10
weeks. The patients will be trained about the individualised exercise program as the first
session provided at the hospital. The physiotherapist will call the patients weekly,
modifications in the exercise program will be made according to the patient's reports.
Outcomes will be measured at baseline, within 1 week of completion the program, 6th months
and 12th months following the rehabilitation.
Other: Remote controlled exercise
Breathing, aerobic, posture, stretching, upper and lower extremity strengthening exercises.
Other: Home exercise
Breathing, aerobic, posture, stretching, upper and lower extremity strengthening exercises.
Inclusion Criteria:
- To be older than 18 years
- To be discharged from ICU with a diagnosis of ARDS or severe pneumonia due to COVID-19
- To have ability to walk independently
Exclusion Criteria:
- To have dementia or cognitive impairment, symptomatic psychiatric illness, hearing or
visual impairment that might interfere to follow the instructions
- To have a severe co-morbidity that exercise is contraindicated
Koc University School of Medicine
Istanbul, Turkey
Investigator: Ihsan Solaroglu, Prof
Contact: + 90 212 338 10
isolaroglu@ku.edu.tr
Investigator:
Ihsan Solaroglu, Prof
+ 90 212 338 10 39
isolaroglu@ku.edu.tr
Baris Ata, Prof
+ 90 212 338 10 39
bata@ku.edu.tr
Ozden Ozyemisci Taskiran, Prof, Principal Investigator
Koc University School of Medicine