Functional rehabilitation based on therapeutic exercise training in patients with postacute COVID syndrome (RECOVER)

Postacute COVID syndrome (PACS) is common after acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. One of the most frequent and disabling symptoms is exercise intolerance (EI). Recent evidence suggests that EI in PACS has a peripheral (metabolic-neuromuscular) origin, suggesting that exercise training may be an effective treatment. The aim of this study was to assess the role a therapeutic physical exercise program (TPEP) in PACS with EI.

This single-center, open-label, randomized clinical trial compared an exercise training program (intervention group) with regular physical activity recommendations (control group) in patients with PACS and EI. The intervention group underwent an 8-week TPEP. The primary endpoint was improvement in functional capacity, assessed as the change in peak VO₂.

We included 50 participants with PACS (73% women, mean age 47±7.1 years). The intervention group showed a 15% improvement in peak VO₂ (peak VO₂ pre- and postintervention: 25.5±7.7mL/kg/min and 29.3±4.7 mL/kg/min; P <.001) and a 13.2% improvement in predicted values (92.1±14.3% and 108.4±13.4%; P <.001). No significant changes in VO₂ values were observed in the control group. Unlike the control group, the intervention group also showed improvements in all secondary outcomes: quality of life scales, muscle power, maximum inspiratory power, metabolic flexibility, and body fat percentage.

The program improved functional capacity in patients with PACS and EI.