Examination of The Effects of Telerehabilitation in Painful Healthcare Workers With and Without COVID-19 Infection
Condition: COVID-19 Respiratory Infection
MeSH terms: Infections; Communicable Diseases; COVID-19; Respiratory Tract Infections
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      In the literature, there are studies examining the effects of telerehabilitation on
      individuals who have had COVID-19, but studies examining the effects on healthcare workers
      who have experienced COVID-19 are insufficient. In this study, which is planned to be done,
      it is aimed to examine the effects of myofascial relaxation technique on pain and other
      symptoms through telerehabilitation. The aim of the study is to examine the effects of
      myofascial relaxation technique applied with the telerehabilitation method on pain level,
      anxiety, depression, sleep, fatigue and kinesiophobia in healthcare workers with and without
      COVID-19 infection with pain.
    

Detailed description: 
      COVID-19 is a disease caused by severe acute coronavirus 2 infection and declared as a
      pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020. In the period from March 11,
      when the first case was announced in Turkey, to the present day, the total number of cases
      has exceeded 2.3 million. COVID-19 is mainly transmitted by air droplets, aerosols and direct
      contact, and asymptomatic carriers are the main reason for rapid spread. While many
      professional groups are working at home during the pandemic process; the risk of contracting
      COVID-19 has increased, especially in healthcare workers working in high-risk departments of
      hospitals where COVID-19 patients are treated.

      Along with symptoms such as fever, dry cough and shortness of breath, common musculoskeletal
      problems such as muscle pain, joint pain and fatigue, anxiety, depression and deterioration
      in sleep quality have been observed in COVID-19 patients. It can take weeks to get over the
      COVID-19 disease; however, some symptoms persist even after the infection has cleared. The
      continuation of physical, cognitive and psychological problems in COVID-19 patients
      recovering from the acute phase of the disease is called 'Post-COVID-19 Syndrome'. A good
      evaluation and treatment is required to prevent these symptoms in individuals with COVID-19.

      Telerehabilitation refers to providing rehabilitation services using electronic communication
      technologies. In the current pandemic process, the use of telerehabilitation has increased
      all over the world to help patients without compromising the social distance rule. There is
      no need for protective equipment as there is no physical contact during telerehabilitation
      sessions. As a result, patient satisfaction and treatment efficiency are increased by
      enabling more effective and natural human interaction.

      In the literature, there are studies examining the effects of telerehabilitation on
      individuals who have had COVID-19, but studies examining the effects on healthcare workers
      who have experienced COVID-19 are insufficient. In this study, which is planned to be done,
      it is aimed to examine the effects of myofascial relaxation technique on pain and other
      symptoms through telerehabilitation. The aim of the study is to examine the effects of
      myofascial relaxation technique applied with the telerehabilitation method on pain level,
      anxiety, depression, sleep, fatigue and kinesiophobia in healthcare workers with and without
      COVID-19 infection with pain.
    

Intervention name(s): Progressive Myofascial Relaxation Exercise
Intervention type(s): Other
Intervention description(s): Participants will be given telerehabilitation methods, progressive myofascial relaxation techniques and simple posture correction exercises every other day for 2 weeks. The exercises will be performed as follows:
First, focus on creating tension in the body by contracting all your body muscles and feeling the body tension by holding this tight position for 3-5 seconds. Then relax and relax and focus on feeling the relaxed position of the muscles for 10-15 seconds. Then, the same contraction and relaxation movements will be applied in the feet, legs, hips, waist, chest, shoulders, arms and face areas, respectively. They will be asked to do these exercises in the morning and evening while lying in bed.
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention model: Single Group Assignment
Intervention model description: Participants will be divided into two groups as those with pain after COVID-19 infection and those with pain not related to COVID-19 infection. Both groups will be applied telerehabilitation methods, progressive myofascial relaxation techniques and simple posture correction exercises every other day for 2 weeks. Progressive myofascial relaxation exercises will be asked to do morning and evening while lying in bed. Posture exercises will be required to perform while standing, at least 2 or 3 sets during work.
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: COVID-19; telerehabilitation; pain; healthcare workers; progressive myofascial relaxation technique