Background:
Following a COVID-19 infection, approximately 65% of patients return to their previous health status within three weeks. However, about 10% of individuals develop “Long COVID,” a condition characterized by persistent symptoms and functional impairment lasting more than 12 weeks. While rehabilitation is recommended, there is limited evidence on the impact of structured physical therapy programs specifically in low- and middle-income countries. This study aims to evaluate how a multidisciplinary physical therapy intervention affects the symptoms and functional capacity of symptomatic post-COVID-19 patients.
Abstract:
- Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted between March 2021 and May 2022 with 26 symptomatic post-COVID-19 adults in Salvador, Brazil. Vital signs, physical symptoms (cough, dyspnea, fatigue), and functional outcomes—including the Timed-Up-and-Go (TUG), 30-second sit-to-stand (STS), and 2-minute step-in-place (SIP) tests—were assessed before and after 10 sessions of individualized respiratory and motor physical therapy.
- Results: After 10 sessions, participants showed significant improvements in global muscle strength ($p < 0.001$), handgrip strength ($p = 0.004$), and functional test performance: TUG ($p = 0.002$), STS ($p = 0.006$), and SIP ($p = 0.006$). There was also a significant reduction in reported dry cough ($p = 0.008$), dyspnea on exertion ($p = 0.002$), and fatigue ($p = 0.006$).
- Conclusion: Symptomatic post-COVID-19 patients experienced substantial recovery of functional parameters and symptom reduction following 10 sessions of physical therapy. These findings support the implementation of structured rehabilitation programs to restore quality of life and work capacity in this population.
Keywords: Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome; Rehabilitation; Functional Status; Quasi-Experimental Study; Adult.
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- Data de Publicação: 17/11/2025
- Autores: Ana Francisca Ferreira-Stagliorio1, Juliana Awad de Oliveira Menezes2, Taísa Nascimento de Aquino3, Manuella Franco Cerqueira da Silva4, Felipe de Jesus Souza5, Jesús Enrique Patiño-Escarcina6, Maria Belen Arriaga7, Eduardo Martins Netto8
