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Publications

Journal Article Randomized Controlled Trial Ppublish

PubMed: 40068080 DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000041583

Addressing post-COVID-19 musculoskeletal symptoms through pulmonary rehabilitation with an evidence-based eHealth education tool: Preliminary results from a pilot randomized controlled clinical trial.

Medicine (Baltimore) 104(10):e41583

Authors: Eleuterio A Sánchez-Romero, Teresa García-Barredo-Restegui, Lidia Martínez-Rolando, Jorge Hugo Villafañe, Andrea Galán-Fraguas, Rebeca Jurado-Molina, Juan Nicolás Cuenca-Zaldívar, Xabier A Soto-Goñí, Pedro Martínez-Lozano

Affiliations

  • Faculty of Medicine, Health and Sports, Department of Physiotherapy, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odón, Spain.
  • Interdisciplinary Research Group on Musculoskeletal Disorders, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Sports, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odón, Spain.
  • Research Group in Nursing and Health Care, Puerta de Hierro Health Research Institute-Segovia de Arana, Majadahonda, Spain.
  • Physiotherapy and Orofacial Pain Working Group, Sociedad Española de Disfunción Craneomandibular y Dolor Orofacial, Madrid, Spain.
  • Neumogym, Salud Respiratoria, Madrid, Spain.
  • Rey Juan Carlos University Hospital of Móstoles, Madrid, Spain.
  • Universidad de Alcalá, Facultad de Enfermería y Fisioterapia, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Grupo de Investigación en Fisioterapia y Dolor, Alcalá de Henares, Spain.
  • Physical Therapy Unit, Primary Health Care Center "El Abajón," Las Rozas de Madrid, Spain.
  • Interdisciplinary Research Group on Musculoskeletal Disorders, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Sports, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odón, Spain. Psychology and Orofacial Pain Working Group, Sociedad Española de Disfunción Craneomandibular y Dolor Orofacial, Madrid, Spain.
  • Interdisciplinary Research Group on Musculoskeletal Disorders, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Sports, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odón, Spain. Faculty of Medicine, Health and Sports, Department of Physiotherapy, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odón, Spain. Aqualab Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Sports, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odón, Spain.

Abstract

BACKGROUND

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has led to a global health crisis with significant long-term consequences, including musculoskeletal symptoms such as fatigue, myalgia, and chronic pain. These issues, often linked to altered nociceptive processing, impair quality of life and are exacerbated in severe cases by intensive care unit-acquired weakness from immobilization and mechanical ventilation. Early rehabilitation, particularly pulmonary rehabilitation (PR), is crucial for mitigating these effects. Telerehabilitation, leveraging telemedicine, offers an innovative, accessible alternative, providing personalized programs that improve adherence and recovery. Recent studies highlight telerehabilitation's benefits alongside traditional methods, underscoring its potential for managing post-COVID-19 musculoskeletal sequelae. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of PR and an eHealth education tool (ET) on pain, functionality, quality of life, and psychological factors in post-COVID-19 patients with musculoskeletal symptoms and to compare telerehabilitation versus face-to-face approaches regarding treatment adherence.

METHODS

This pilot randomized controlled trial included 12 patients with musculoskeletal symptoms of COVID-19. The participants were randomly assigned to a PR program with or without an evidence-based eHealth ET. Primary outcomes included pain reduction and improvements in functional capacity, quality of life, and psychological factors measured over a 45-week period. The secondary outcome was adherence to rehabilitation.

RESULTS

A significant reduction in kinesiophobia was found in the eHealth ET group (P = .048), although no significant differences were observed in pain, Barthel index, or 6-minute walk test results between the groups. Clinically relevant improvements were observed in the telemedicine group.

CONCLUSIONS

An evidence-based eHealth ET was effective in reducing kinesiophobia, highlighting its potential to address psychological aspects of post-COVID-19 recovery. However, further studies are needed to assess its long-term effects on physical recovery.

MeSH

Quality Of Life, Pilots, Pain, Telemedicine, Rehabilitation, Recycling, Telerehabilitation, Signs And Symptoms, Covid-19, Education, Walk Test