Effects of COVID-19 Hospitalization on Physical Performance

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has resulted in millions of hospital admissions. The physical consequences caused by COVID-19 hospitalization could jeopardize the overall health status of patients through a decrease in functional capacity. A therapeutic exercise program may reduce the adverse effects of COVID-19 on functional capacity and thereby improve the overall health status of these patients. The objectives of this project are 1) to analyze the effect of a therapeutic exercise program in patients who have been hospitalized in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for COVID-19. Single-blind randomized clinical trial. 118 patients post-ICU for COVID-19 will be randomized into an intervention group and a control group. The intervention group will perform a therapeutic exercise program for eight weeks in telematic modality. Functional capacity will be analyzed using the grip strength, Short Physical Performance Battery, gait speed, lower extremity strength and the FRAIL scale at baseline, eight and twelve weeks. The main statistical analysis will be a comparison of means for independent samples assessing the effect of the intervention. Given the high prevalence of patients hospitalized for COVID-19, establishing strategies to minimize the adverse effects of the virus on patients is a must for the healthcare setting. Assessing physical condition after COVID-19 will allow the magnitude of the problem to be established. Physiotherapy, through therapeutic exercise, could improve physical fitness in these patients and thus improve the overall health status after COVID-19.