EVALUATION OF PERSISTENT IMPAIRMENTS OBSERVED IN SURVIVORS OF COVID-19: A CROSS-CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20025802

Keywords:

Covid-19, Coronavirus, Pandemic, Rehabilitation

Abstract

Introduction: The Covid-19 pandemic caused clinical and functional complications in patients with different degrees of severity. Evidence suggests that these alterations may persist in the post-disease period, impacting daily activities, even after physiotherapeutic treatment. However, there are still uncertainties regarding the persistence of these complications. Objective: To evaluate the functionality of patients one year after Covid-19 infection. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study conducted with patients from the post-Covid-19 outpatient clinic of FEMA. Assessments were performed at the beginning of physiotherapeutic treatment and one year later. The Romberg test (balance), sit-to-stand test (functional capacity), manovacuometry (respiratory muscle strength), and dynamometry (peripheral muscle strength) were performed. A questionnaire was applied to investigate self-reported sequelae. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0. Results: There was a significant reduction in body temperature (p=0.030), malaise (p=0.032), right handgrip dynamometry (p=0.007), and left handgrip dynamometry (p=0.005). An increase was observed in expiratory muscle strength (p=0.019), scapular dynamometry (p=0.016), and trunk dynamometry (p=0.002). Conclusion: One year after infection, functionality remained stable, with persistent loss of handgrip strength, suggesting peripheral weakness associated with Covid-19. The main reported sequelae were physical disability, fatigue, poor sleep quality, and memory loss. Further studies are necessary to investigate effects across ages and treatments.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

  • JOÃO PEDRO CARREIRO SPANHOL, ARTMED | ASSOBRAFIR

    Physiotherapist graduated from the Educational Foundation of the Municipality of Assis (2023). Developed research in the area of ​​Respiratory Physiotherapy entitled: "Evaluation of Persistent Impairments Observed in COVID-19 Survivors: A Cross-Sectional Study" - Scholarship holder from the São Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP (01/12/2022 to 30/11/2023). Currently works as a Physiotherapist at the Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Assis and the Regional Hospital of Assis, has experience in the hospital setting with clinical, critical, oncological and/or surgical patients. Is an associate member of the Brazilian Association of Respiratory Physiotherapy and Intensive Care Physiotherapy (ASSOBRAFIR) and the Brazilian Association of Intensive Care Medicine (AMIB).

  • ARTHUR CARLOS ROBERTO VIRGULINO, ARTMED|ASSOBRAFIR

    Graduando em fisioterapia desde 2019 na Fundação Educacional do Município de Assis (FEMA) , tenho certificado de um Projeto de Iniciação Cientifica

  • JULIANA SOUZA UZELOTO, FUNDAÇÃO EDUCACIONAL DO MUNICIPIO DE ASSIS

    Docente da Fundação Educacional do Município de Assis (FEMA). Pós doutoranda pela Universidade Estadual Júlio de Mesquita Filho, campus de Botucatu, no Programa de Pós graduação em Fisiopatologia em Clínica Médica. Possui graduação em Fisioterapia pela Universidade do Oeste Paulista (2012). Especialização em Fisioterapia aplicada a Pneumologia pela Universidade Estadual Júlio de Mesquita Filho- UNESP (2013). Mestrado em Fisioterapia pela Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, bolsista CAPES (01/03/2014 - 31/12/2014) e FAPESP (01/01/2015 - 31/05/2016), com período sanduíche na The George Institute for Global Health (Sydney, Austrália) com financiamento da FAPESP, modalidade BEPE. Doutorado em Fisioterapia, pela Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, bolsista CAPES (01/11/2017 - 28/02/2019) e FAPESP (01/03/2019 - 31/10/2020).

References

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF HAND THERAPISTS. Clinical assessment recommendations. 3rd ed. Disponível em: <https://asht.org/practice/clinical-assessment-recommendations>. Acesso em: 27 out. 2023.

AMERICAN THORACIC SOCIETY; EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY SOCIETY. ATS/ERS statement on respiratory muscle testing. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, v. 166, n. 4, p. 518–624, 2002.

DANI, M.; DIRKSEN, A.; TARABORRELLI, P.; TOROCASTRO, M. et al. Autonomic dysfunction in “long COVID”: rationale, physiology and management strategies. Clinical Medicine, v. 21, n. 1, p. e63–e67, 2021.

DUGGAL, P.; PENSON, T.; MANLEY, H. N.; VERGARA, C. et al. Post-sequelae symptoms and comorbidities after COVID-19. Journal of Medical Virology, v. 94, p. 2060–2066, 2022.

FUNDAÇÃO EDUCACIONAL DO MUNICÍPIO DE ASSIS. FEMA na assistência pós-Covid-19. Disponível em: <https://fema.edu.br/index.php/noticias-pagina/1932-fema-na-assistencia-pos-covid-19>. Acesso em: 31 out. 2023.

HALPIN, S. J.; MCIVOR, C.; WHYATT, G.; ADAMS, A. et al. Post-discharge symptoms and rehabilitation needs in survivors of COVID-19 infection: a cross-sectional evaluation. Journal of Medical Virology, v. 93, p. 1013–1022, 2021.

HOCKELE, L. F.; SACHET AFFONSO, J. V.; ROSSI, D.; EIBEL, B. Pulmonary and functional rehabilitation improves functional capacity, pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength in post COVID-19 patients: pilot clinical trial. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, v. 19, p. 14899, 2022.

HU, B.; GUO, H.; ZHOU, P.; SHI, Z. L. Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. Nature Reviews Microbiology, v. 19, p. 141–154, 2021.

JENSEN, M. P.; KAROLY, P.; BRAVER, S. The measurement of clinical pain intensity: a comparison of six methods. Pain, v. 27, n. 1, p. 117–126, 1986.

KIEKENS, C.; BOLDRINI, P.; ANDREOLI, A.; AVESANI, R. et al. Rehabilitation and respiratory management in the acute and early post-acute phase: instant paper from the field on rehabilitation answers to the COVID-19 emergency. European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, v. 56, n. 3, p. 323–326, 2020.

LANSKA, D. J. The Romberg sign and early instruments for measuring postural sway. Seminars in Neurology, v. 22, n. 4, p. 409–418, 2002.

LIPPI, G.; SANCHIS-GOMAR, F.; HENRY, B. M. COVID-19 and its long-term sequelae: what do we know in 2023? Polish Archives of Internal Medicine, v. 133, n. 4, p. 16402, 2023.

LOANNIDIS, J. P. A. The end of the COVID-19 pandemic. European Journal of Clinical Investigation, v. 52, n. 6, p. e13782, 2022.

POUDEL, A. N.; ZHU, S.; COOPER, N.; RODERICK, P. et al. Impact of COVID-19 on health-related quality of life of patients: a structured review. PLOS One, v. 16, n. 10, p. e0259164, 2021.

RAMÍREZ MANENT, J. I.; ALTISENCH JANÉ, B.; SHANCÍS CORTÉS, P.; BUSQUETS-CORTÉS, C. et al. Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on anthropometric variables, blood pressure, and glucose and lipid profile in healthy adults: a before and after pandemic lockdown longitudinal study. Nutrients, v. 14, n. 6, p. 1237, 2022.

SANTOS, R. G. dos; TRIBESS, S.; MENEGUCI, J.; BASTOS, L. L. A. da G. et al. Força de membros inferiores como indicador de incapacidade funcional em idosos. Motriz: Revista de Educação Física, v. 9, n. 3, supl., p. S35–S42, 2013.

SIMPSON, R.; ROBINSON, L. Rehabilitation after critical illness in people with COVID-19 infection. American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, v. 99, n. 6, p. 470–474, 2020.

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. WHO coronavirus (COVID-19) dashboard. Disponível em: <https://covid19.who.int/>. Acesso em: 26 out. 2023.

Downloads

Published

2026-05-05

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 1 (2026)

Section

Artigos

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Revista INTELECTO

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.