Table of Contents

ABSTRACT

COVID-19 can cause serious damage to the respiratory tract, often resulting in muscle weakness, shortness of breath, polyneuritis, and multi-organ failure. Physical therapy plays a fundamental role in restoring function and quality of life. Tele rehabilitation is being proposed as a promising complementary therapy to conventional physical therapy. Methods: Parallel-group randomized controlled trial. 60 participants were randomized into two groups (N = 30 in each group): An experimental group and a control group. Patients aged 18-75 years affected with corona virus and in home confinement, having at least one RT-PCR COVID report, ability to walk, ability to use a smart phone, controlled asthma with evidence of infection and retained secretion were included. Experimental group did walk at 5-7 minutes, breathing exercise, strengthening exercises, stretching exercises for 30 min thrice a week for four weeks. Control group did walk for 5-7 minutes during the same treatment period. Results: The result of the study demonstrated a statistically significant between-group difference in SPBB (p = 0.0001), SF-36 (p = 0.0001), and MMRC (p = 0.0001). There is no statistically significant between-group difference in 5 times sit to stand as compared to the control group. Conclusions: It can be concluded that the breathing, strengthening, and stretching exercises that are done through tele-rehabilitation are effective measures that help in improving breathing, ADLs, balance, gait speed and quality of life in post-COVID patients.

Keywords: COVID-19, NCOV, tele-rehabilitation, remote rehabilitation, exercise, India