The aim of our study is to investigate the effectiveness of telehealth exercise trainingprograms in Post-COVID patients.
Decreased exercise capacity, persistent dyspnea and easily fatigue are found in some
Post-COVID patients. Telerehabilitation has been developed in cardiac and pulmonary
diseases such as coronary artery disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for
years with good clinical outcomes. However, little is known about the effectiveness of
home-based telehealth exercise training programs among Post-COVID patients. Thus, we want
to investigate the effectiveness of telehealth exercise training programs among
Post-COVID patients, including exercise capacity, physical amounts and health related
quality of life.
Device: Home-based telehealth exercise training program
A home-based exercise mobile app will be offered combined with the heart rate sensing
clothes to each participant in the group of home-based telehealth exercise training
program. The mobile app provides auto-feedback of heart rate at each exercise training
session through the heart rate sensing clothes and alarm function identifying
individuals' appropriate exercise intensity (target heart rate) during their exercise
based on their exercise prescription calculated and set up inside the app. After
completing each exercise training session, the record of training time and heart rate
response is simultaneously uploaded to the cloud system of the medical center through the
heart rate sensing clothes. The experienced and well-trained nurse checked the cloud
system data to monitor participants' adherence to exercise training. In addition, online
communication is enabled using LINE software, which provided a platform for patients and
researchers to interact with each other through messaging.
Behavioral: Education and self-exercise
The participants will receive a exercise prescription suggestion. Then, they will
maintain their routine outpatient follow-up per month and usual lifestyles with weekly
reminders.
Inclusion Criteria:
Individuals who had been diagnosed with COVID-19 positive and whose last PCR test or
rapid antigen test was negative with the following criteria:
- aged between 20 to 80 years old
- persistent symptoms at least 4 weeks after recovery from COVID-19 infection,
including any of the following symptoms: dyspnea, fatigue, cough, headache, chest
tightness, palpitations, loss of smell, anxiety, insomnia, brain fog or joint pain
- able to speak and understand Mandarin
- no cognitive impairment (Mini-Mental State Examination > 24)
- able to walk including those who need the walking aid
- had mobile phones and could easily access the Internet
Exclusion Criteria:
- a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or other respiratory diseases
- a history of arrhythmia,cancer, end-stage renal disease with dialysis, being
diagnosed with mental illness, recent stroke within 6 months
- inability to participate because of comorbid neurological or musculoskeletal
conditions that produce moderate to severe physical disability
- need all day oxygen support
Tri-service general hospital
Taipei, Neihu, Taiwan
Investigator: Chia-Ying Lai, MD
Contact: 886-2-87923311
pokerface165@gmail.com
Chia-Ying Lai, MD
886-2-87923311 - 13606
pokerface165@gmail.com
Shang-Lin Chiang, PhD, Principal Investigator
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tri-Service General