The Effect of Physiotherapy Intervention on Functional Outcomes among COVID19 patients at Governmental Hospitals in Hebron/Palestine
Date
2021-08-18
Authors
Athar Khalid Daher Abu Fara
اثار خالد ظاهر ابو فارة
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Al-Quds University
Abstract
Background: COVID-19 is a highly contagious coronavirus that spread via large aerosol
droplets or direct contact with infected secretion, as the novel virus enters the body it will leave
dysfunctions in the whole body systems. The main cause of its increased mortality rate is
pneumonia that rapidly progresses to acute respiratory distress. Physiotherapy is a health care
profession involved in the management of many respiratory conditions; it plays a key role in the
non-invasive support management, postural changes, chest physiotherapy, and bed mobility, in
terms of COVID-19 there is scarce evidence about the effect of physiotherapy interventions on
COVID-19 patients'. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of physiotherapy
intervention on functional outcome level among COVID -19 patients in the acute stage.
Methods: This study is Quasi-experimental designs/ non-equivalent groups, targeted severe
COVID-19 patients recruited from Hebron and Dura governmental hospitals of COVID- 19
departments by using Systematic random sampling, 54 male and 6 female, the mean age was 50
years. Intervention group (n=30) received 2 physiotherapy sessions/daily, consisting of
positioning, chest physiotherapy, aerobic exercises, breathing exercises, and early mobility,
while the control group received regular medical care only. Patients have been evaluated 2 times
at the baseline and discharge using peripheral oxygen saturation, respiratory rate test, dyspnea
rate, 2 minutes - walk test, and spirometer scores to test (FVC, FEV1).
Results: The two groups showed significant improvements between the baseline and the
discharge scores, however the intervention group achieved significant improvement in all
outcome measures at the discharge (p < 0.05). Furthermore the gender, pre-exciting diseases, and
increased BMI are general risk factors of the COVID- 19 severity, length of hospitalization.
Conclusion: This study shows that physiotherapy management with COVID- 19 patients
improved the oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, dyspnea, 2 - minutes – walk, and lung function
tests (FVC, FEV1).
Key words: Physiotherapy, COVID-19, Coronavirus, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome