Effects of a telerehabilitation program and detraining on cardiorespiratory fitness in patients with post-COVID-19 sequelae: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a 15-week telerehabilitation program and a detraining period on cardiorespiratory fitness and mechanical efficiency in patients with post-COVID-19 sequelae.

Methods: 131 patients with post-COVID-19 sequelae were randomly assigned to one of two groups: patients who carried out the supervised telerehabilitation program (TRG, n = 66) and a control group (CG, n = 65). An incremental cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) was performed on cycle ergometer to compare cardioventilatory responses between experimental groups.

Results: A significant increase in the CPET duration, peak power output, and mechanical efficiency was observed in TRG compared to CG after the telerehabilitation program (p ≤ 0.001). A significant increase in the CPET duration, peak power output, and mechanical efficiency was verified at 3 months compared to the pretest and after detraining in TRG (p < 0.001). A significant increase in peak oxygen uptake (V̇O_2peak ) was identified after the intervention and in the detraining period compared to the pretest in both experimental groups (p < 0.001). A higher ventilatory efficiency was observed after the telerehabilitation program (p = 0.021) than in pretest only in TRG.

Conclusions: A 15-week supervised home telerehabilitation program improved exercise capacity, power output, and mechanical efficiency in TRG compared to a CG. The telerehabilitation program was not more effective in improving V̇O_2peak than the activities of the CG. However, ventilatory efficiency was improved only after the telerehabilitation program. The reported results after the detraining period highlight the need to maintain the rehabilitation program over time.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; exercise capacity; fatigue; muscular efficiency; oxygen uptake; ventilatory efficiency.