IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i24p16383-d995722.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Effects of Aerobic Training in Patients with Subacute COVID-19: A Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial

Author

Listed:
  • Stefano Corna

    (Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of Veruno Institute, 28013 Gattico-Veruno, Italy)

  • Marica Giardini

    (Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of Veruno Institute, 28013 Gattico-Veruno, Italy)

  • Marco Godi

    (Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of Veruno Institute, 28013 Gattico-Veruno, Italy)

  • Lucia Bellotti

    (Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of Veruno Institute, 28013 Gattico-Veruno, Italy)

  • Ilaria Arcolin

    (Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of Veruno Institute, 28013 Gattico-Veruno, Italy)

Abstract

Many clinical practice recommendations indicate rehabilitation as essential for patients with sequelae of severe or critical COVID-19 and suggest the prompt initiation of a multicomponent rehabilitation program focused on aerobic and endurance training. However, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) regarding aerobic exercise are lacking. Therefore, we aimed to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of the addition of aerobic training to standard rehabilitation in subjects with subacute COVID-19. Participants were 32/214 patients with the sequelae of severe or critical COVID-19 in the acute phase who were eligible and agreed to participate in the study (eligibility = 15%, recruitment = 100%). After randomization and assessment with functional and strength tests, all the participants underwent an inpatient-tailored rehabilitation program (50 min/day, 5 days/week, 10 sessions); in addition, the experimental group performed a low- to moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (30 min/day, 10 sessions). No dropouts or severe adverse events were reported, with an attendance rate of 95.6%. Most of the secondary outcomes significantly improved in both groups, but the improvement in the Functional Independence Measure and Cumulated Ambulation Score—Italian version was significantly greater in the experimental group (at least, p < 0.05). This RCT showed that aerobic exercise is feasible and safe in subacute COVID-19. Moreover, it appears to be beneficial and useful in improving patients’ independence and mobility.

Suggested Citation

  • Stefano Corna & Marica Giardini & Marco Godi & Lucia Bellotti & Ilaria Arcolin, 2022. "Effects of Aerobic Training in Patients with Subacute COVID-19: A Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:24:p:16383-:d:995722
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/24/16383/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/24/16383/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Amaya Jimeno-Almazán & Jesús G. Pallarés & Ángel Buendía-Romero & Alejandro Martínez-Cava & Francisco Franco-López & Bernardino J. Sánchez-Alcaraz Martínez & Enrique Bernal-Morel & Javier Courel-Ibáñe, 2021. "Post-COVID-19 Syndrome and the Potential Benefits of Exercise," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-16, May.
    2. Marica Giardini & Ilaria Arcolin & Marco Godi & Simone Guglielmetti & Alessandro Maretti & Armando Capelli & Stefano Corna, 2022. "The Coronavirus Footprint on Dual-Task Performance in Post-Acute Patients after Severe COVID-19: A Future Challenge for Rehabilitation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-12, August.
    3. Gilbert Büsching & Zhongxing Zhang & Jean-Paul Schmid & Thomas Sigrist & Ramin Khatami, 2021. "Effectiveness of Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Severe and Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients: A Controlled Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-10, August.
    4. Amir Hossein Ahmadi Hekmatikar & João Batista Ferreira Júnior & Shahnaz Shahrbanian & Katsuhiko Suzuki, 2022. "Functional and Psychological Changes after Exercise Training in Post-COVID-19 Patients Discharged from the Hospital: A PRISMA-Compliant Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-11, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Claire Colas & Yann Le Berre & Marie Fanget & Angélique Savall & Martin Killian & Ivan Goujon & Pierre Labeix & Manon Bayle & Léonard Féasson & Frederic Roche & David Hupin, 2023. "Physical Activity in Long COVID: A Comparative Study of Exercise Rehabilitation Benefits in Patients with Long COVID, Coronary Artery Disease and Fibromyalgia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(15), pages 1-14, August.
    2. Mélina Bailly & Léna Pélissier & Emmanuel Coudeyre & Bertrand Evrard & Rea Bingula & Corinne Rochette & Laurent Mériade & Christelle Blavignac & Anne-Cécile Fournier & Yves-Jean Bignon & Fabrice Ranno, 2022. "Systematic Review of COVID-19-Related Physical Activity-Based Rehabilitations: Benefits to Be Confirmed by More Robust Methodological Approaches," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-17, July.
    3. Anna Ogonowska-Slodownik & Marta Kinga Labecka & Katarzyna Kaczmarczyk & Renae J. McNamara & Michał Starczewski & Jan Gajewski & Agnieszka Maciejewska-Skrendo & Natalia Morgulec-Adamowicz, 2022. "Water-Based and Land-Based Exercise for Children with Post-COVID-19 Condition (postCOVIDkids)—Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-14, November.
    4. Mariana Cevei & Roxana Ramona Onofrei & Anamaria Gherle & Cristina Gug & Dorina Stoicanescu, 2022. "Rehabilitation of Post-COVID-19 Musculoskeletal Sequelae in Geriatric Patients: A Case Series Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-14, November.
    5. Paulo Gentil & Claudio Andre Barbosa de Lira & Carlos Alexandre Vieira & Rodrigo Ramirez-Campillo & Amir Hossein Haghighi & Filipe Manuel Clemente & Daniel Souza, 2022. "Resistance Training before, during, and after COVID-19 Infection: What Have We Learned So Far?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-12, May.
    6. Mario Samper-Pardo & Sandra León-Herrera & Bárbara Oliván-Blázquez & Belén Benedé-Azagra & Rosa Magallón-Botaya & Isabel Gómez-Soria & Estela Calatayud & Alejandra Aguilar-Latorre & Fátima Méndez-Lópe, 2022. "Development and Validation of a Mobile Application as an Adjuvant Treatment for People Diagnosed with Long COVID-19: Protocol for a Co-Creation Study of a Health Asset and an Analysis of Its Effective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-21, December.
    7. Jack Wright & Sarah L. Astill & Manoj Sivan, 2022. "The Relationship between Physical Activity and Long COVID: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-13, April.
    8. Luis Llurda-Almuzara & Jacobo Rodríguez-Sanz & Carlos López-de-Celis & Ramón Aiguadé-Aiguadé & Raúl Arán-Jové & Noé Labata-Lezaun & César Fernández-de-las-Peñas & Joan Bosch & Albert Pérez-Bellmunt, 2022. "Effects of Adding an Online Exercise Program on Physical Function in Individuals Hospitalized by COVID-19: A Randomized Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-12, December.
    9. Hameeda Sultan & Jinyan Zhan & Wajid Rashid & Xi Chu & Eve Bohnett, 2022. "Systematic Review of Multi-Dimensional Vulnerabilities in the Himalayas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-20, September.
    10. Marc Spielmanns & Corina E. Schaer & Anna-Maria Pekacka-Egli & Sabine Spielmanns & Olberk Ibish & Guzel Gafina & Antonela Stiube & Matthias Hermann, 2023. "Pulmonary Rehabilitation Outcomes of Post-Acute COVID-19 Patients during Different Waves of the Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(10), pages 1-11, May.
    11. Luana Fagherazzi Hockele & João Vitor Sachet Affonso & Danusa Rossi & Bruna Eibel, 2022. "Pulmonary and Functional Rehabilitation Improves Functional Capacity, Pulmonary Function and Respiratory Muscle Strength in Post COVID-19 Patients: Pilot Clinical Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-10, November.
    12. Katrin Müller & Iris Poppele & Marcel Ottiger & Katharina Zwingmann & Ivo Berger & Andreas Thomas & Alois Wastlhuber & Franziska Ortwein & Anna-Lena Schultz & Anna Weghofer & Eva Wilhelm & Rainer-Chri, 2023. "Impact of Rehabilitation on Physical and Neuropsychological Health of Patients Who Acquired COVID-19 in the Workplace," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-21, January.
    13. Lidia Martínez Rolando & Jorge Hugo Villafañe & Soledad Cercadillo García & Ana Sanz Argüello & Marta Villanueva Rosa & Eleuterio A. Sánchez Romero, 2022. "Multicomponent Exercise Program to Improve the Immediate Sequelae of COVID-19: A Prospective Study with a Brief Report of 2-Year Follow-Up," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-14, September.
    14. Rafael Martínez-Gallego & Juan Pedro Fuentes-García & Miguel Crespo, 2021. "COVID-19 Prevention Measures Implemented by Tennis Coaches: The Role of Continent, Experience, and Type of Facility," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-12, December.
    15. Alfredo Córdova-Martínez & Alberto Caballero-García & Enrique Roche & Daniel Pérez-Valdecantos & David C. Noriega, 2022. "Effects and Causes of Detraining in Athletes Due to COVID-19: A Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-12, April.
    16. Jia Yang & Xiang Li & Taiyu He & Fangyuan Ju & Ye Qiu & Zuguo Tian, 2022. "Impact of Physical Activity on COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-12, October.
    17. Katsuhiko Suzuki & Amir Hossein Ahmadi Hekmatikar & Shadi Jalalian & Shaghayegh Abbasi & Elmira Ahmadi & Abdolreza Kazemi & Ruheea Taskin Ruhee & Kayvan Khoramipour, 2022. "The Potential of Exerkines in Women’s COVID-19: A New Idea for a Better and More Accurate Understanding of the Mechanisms behind Physical Exercise," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-21, November.
    18. Sarah Houben & Bruno Bonnechère, 2022. "The Impact of COVID-19 Infection on Cognitive Function and the Implication for Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-21, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:24:p:16383-:d:995722. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.