Tele-Physiotherapy After COVID-19 Hospitalization

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2), is a multisystem infectious disease which has led to a global pandemic.

Tele-medicine is a tool to connect patients and health care professions while maintaining social distancing and restrictions. Tele-physiotherapy is a field of physiotherapy which has the advantage of providing therapy.

Since some months ago, different organizations have started the tele-physiotherapy/tele-rehabilitation program to manage the patients' complications after COVID-19. This research team have developed a tele-rehabilitation guideline for physiotherapists to help them how to use tele-physiotherapy program for patients after COVID-19 hospitalization. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of tele-physiotherapy program in patients discharged after COVID-19.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2), is a multisystem infectious disease which has led to a global pandemic.

Due to multisystem nature of this disease, it can cause a variety of early and late complications. New studies have revealed some of the long-term sequelae of this disease, such as neurological injuries, arterial or venous thrombosis, cardiac, brain strokes, etc. which need to be taken into consideration during management of patients. Many COVID-19 survivors who require critical care may also develop psychological, physical and cognitive impairments. These patients may develop various impairments because of hospitalization owing to extended immobilization and many hours bed ridden; these include neuromuscular complications, severe muscle weakness and fatigue, joint stiffness, dysphagia, psychological problems, reduced mobility, low quality of life, frequent falls, and even quadriparesis.

Given impacts of COVID-19 on global health care system, innovative approaches in managing patients are needed. This is the reason that tele-medicine is becoming a trendy title for researchers . Tele-medicine is a tool to connect patients and health care professions while maintaining social distancing and restrictions . Digital health interventions can help provide self-monitoring tools, field updates, exercise protocols, and psychological support. Depending on the funding and facilities provided by the health care system, tele-medicine can be designed and employed in each country uniquely.

Physiotherapy interventions can be also delivered through modern digital communication tools. Tele-physiotherapy is a field of physiotherapy which has the advantage of providing therapy wherever is most convenient for the patient through the use of modern digital communication.

Based on the evidences from other outbreak of viruses in the coronavirus strain epidemics, many of the discharged patients after COVID-19 pneumonia are likely to have residual impairment even some years after hospitalization. Not only discharged COVID-19 patients, but also other members of the society might need physiotherapy in this crisis. Despite this need, social distancing should be taken into account and human lives can't be put in danger. Tele-physiotherapy provides a great opportunity for therapists to communicate with their patients, assess and treat them.

Since some months ago, different organizations have started the tele-physiotherapy/tele-rehabilitation program to manage the patients' complications after COVID-19. This research team have developed a tele-rehabilitation guideline for physiotherapists to help them how to use tele-physiotherapy program for patients after COVID-19 hospitalization. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of tele-physiotherapy program in patients discharged after COVID-19.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Discharged patients with Covid-19 pneumonia,
* Having at least one rT-PCR Covid test,
* Duration of hospitalization \> 10 days,
* Ability to walk,
* Totally oriented,
* Ability to use smartphone,
* Ability to read and write in Persian.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Having any kind of musculoskeletal disorder causing inability to participate in physiotherapy sessions,
* Severe cardiovascular impairments.