Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Outcomes in People with Persisting Symptoms after COVID-19 Infection

[Abstract]=Purpose: Rehabilitation centers responded to emerging post-COVID-19 symptoms by implementing specific programmes. This study aims to describe physiotherapy outcomes, interdisciplinary intervention adherence, and post-intervention changes in physiotherapy outcomes.
Materials and method: A retrospective analysis was conducted. The analysis describes routine data in patients from a post-COVID programme who underwent physiotherapy (PT) screening between April 2021 and July 2022. Physiotherapy outcomes were a 6-minute walk test (6MWT), a 1-minute sit-to-stand test (1STST) and an assessment of quality of life (EQ-5D-5L). Data were compared to norm values, and adherence to interventions was described.
Results: After 9 months, for 172 patients (70% female, mean age 44), values for 6MWT, 1STST, EQ-5D-5L VAS and index were below normal reference values. Interdisciplinary interventions were initiated for 151 patients, with variable adherence. Energy management education was most indicated. Among 72 patients analysed for post-intervention changes in PT outcomes, test results indicated improvement, in accordance with 67% subjectively classifying their health condition as improving.
Conclusion: Patients seeking treatment for post COVID-19 condition seem to have objective functional deficits, aligning with subjective complaints. They might need individualized treatment programmes with non-standardized duration. Further investigations and continuation of care are necessary to ensure the quality of care.