The Home-Based Rehabilitation of Patients Through Physical Exercises in the Context of Indoor Air Quality

Background: Patients with spinal cord injuries, in addition to rehabilitation in specialized facilities, often continue physical therapy at home. At that time, they become highly exposed to indoor pollutants, which can affect the effectiveness of the recovery program and human health. Methods: Thus, the present study presents the monitoring of indoor air quality in a residential facility where a patient with spinal cord injuries undergoes post-traumatic recuperative physical activity. Such a study is useful for ensuring good air quality for the optimal development of a rehabilitation program with the possibility of screening the indoor air quality of the home by the physiotherapist and even by the patient themselves, in the simplest way possible using low-cost equipment. Thus, 11 indoor air quality parameters were monitored for a period of 18 weeks, using low-cost equipment. An air purifier was put into operation for a period of one week to identify differences in the safety of the indoor environment for physical activities. Results: The results indicate an environment with frequent exceedances of the international standards in force for several indicators. After installing the purifier, the air quality stabilized and a much safer and more efficient environment for carrying out the recovery activities was established. Conclusions: Thus, the process of monitoring and optimizing indoor air quality stands as a fundamental requirement for home rehabilitation because it establishes a secure controlled environment that supports recovery in any residential setting.