Efeitos do treinamento funcional por telereabilitação sobre a aptidão física, força muscular, e nível de depressão/ansiedade em indivíduos pós COVID-19: ensaio controlado randomizado

Abstract

Introduction: COVID-19 is a disease with a high mortality rate, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, with symptomatic or asymptomatic variation, which attacks the cardiorespiratory, neuromuscular, and psychological systems. Individuals who recovered from the disease need physiotherapeutic follow-up, but access to physical rehabilitation is currently hampered by social distancing measures. Intervention with physical exercise has been an important ally in improving cardiorespiratory, motor, and mental function, but there are few studies related to the specific treatment of this population, mainly related to telerehabilitation adapted for the home environment. Objective: To evaluate the effects of a telerehabilitation functional training program on physical fitness, muscle strength, and level of depression/anxiety in post-COVID 19 individuals. Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial, with a sample of 30 individuals recovered from COVID-19, age ≥ 18 years, allocated to the Functional Training Group (FTG - functional training and health education lectures; n=15) and Control Group (CG – health education lectures; n=15). They underwent assessment of physical fitness (Senior Fitness Test), handgrip strength (handgrip dynamometer), and depression/anxiety level (Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventory), before and 8 weeks after the intervention. For statistical analysis, SPSS 20.0, Shapiro-Wilk test (normality of data) and Levene test (homogeneity of variances), t Student (inter- and intra-group comparison) were used; with a significance level of p<0.05. Results: After the intervention, there was a significant improvement in muscle strength in both groups (p<0,001), but with no difference between them (p=0.28). In physical fitness, there was a significant improvement in GTF in all tests (p=0.00), and when comparing the response delta between groups, there was an improvement: sit and stand, arm flexion, 6MWT (p=0.00), and get up and go (p=0.02), with no improvement for the CG (sit and get up p=0.82; arm flexion p=0.09; get up and go p=0.73; 6MWT p=0, 75). In mental health, the GTF showed a significant reduction in the levels of anxiety (p=0.03) and depression (p=0.01), and when comparing the response delta between groups, there was a significant improvement only in the depression index (p=0.01). =0.02), and not in anxiety (p=0.13). Conclusion: The eight week training proved to be viable and safe to rehabilitate post-COVID-19 individuals, positively impacting the physical fitness and mental health of those evaluated.