Symptoms of long-standing sequelae and complications of COVID-19, termed Long COVID19 orpersistent COVID, have been reported worldwide. However, the etiology underlying theprolonged or fluctuating symptomatology is limited and there is no uniform and widelyaccepted definition.Patients describe persistent COVID as a fluctuating disease withvariable and persistent symptoms.Most of the effects correspond to clinical symptoms suchas fatigue, headache, arthralgias, hyposmia, gustatory sensations, etc. Fatigue is themost common and prolonged symptom of persistent COVID. Knowledge of thepathophysiological mechanisms of fatigue in COVID-19 disease, as well as the therapeuticapproach, remains limited due to the relatively recent onset of this pathology. Inparticular, muscle strength training has been shown to improve muscle function andfatigue, not only during treatment, but also at long-term follow-up.
Objective: To evaluate the effects on the perception of fatigue in patients with
persistent COVID, who undergo a supervised and directed therapeutic exercise program in a
health center compared to a home therapeutic exercise program.
Methods: Randomized pilot study. Subjects who are included in the study will perform a
therapeutic exercise program which will last 8 weeks and 2 sessions per week of 1h
duration. The participants assigned to the supervised group will carry out the program at
the health center, while the participants assigned to the home group will receive
telematic supervision (by videoconference). Both groups will be under the supervision of
the assigned physiotherapist.
The components that will form part of the exercise program will be: muscular strength
training and continuous-variable aerobic training or HIIT type with loads between 70-90%
of maximum heart rate. The main variables are fatigue.
Other: exercise programe
The components of the exercise programe will be: muscle strength training and
continuous-variable aerobic training or HIIT with loads between 70-90% of maximum heart
rate. The aerobic training will last about 30 minutes and will then be completed with
muscle training of the upper and lower limbs with loads determined according to the
perception of effort (loads around 50-70%). The sessions will be monitored with pulse
oximetry (heart rate and oxygen saturation), perception of fatigue and sensation of
suffocation (Borg scale). The intensity of each component of the programme will be
individualised according to the conditions of each subject.
Adherence to the programme will be recorded as successful when participation in the
sessions is greater than 80% of the total number of sessions.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Adult patients diagnosed with LongCOVID19 or persistent COVID19.
- Agree to participate and sign the informed consent form.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patients with comorbidities associated with having fatigue (e.g. cancer survivors,
severe cardiovascular or respiratory disease prior to persistent COVID).
- Taking medication of drugs that may interfere with the perception of fatigue.
- Patients with mental disorders or cognitive impairment prior to persistent COVID.
- Patients who regularly practice intense sports (>4h/week).
- Any illness that may condition understanding and compliance with the study.
CSSV-Rif
Barcelona, Vilafranca Del Penedés, Spain
Investigator: Victoria Alcaraz
Contact: 938 90 51 36
Pedro Victor López Plaza
932 53 32 56
pedrovictorlp@blanquerna.url.edu
Victoria Alcaraz Serrano
932 53 32 56
victoriaas@blanquerna.url.edu
Not Provided