Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome (PACS) and Exercise Interventions: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Exercise Physiology
• Infectious Disease Recovery

Background:

• Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome (PACS) presents persistent challenges impacting patient quality of life and physical function.
• Effective and safe interventions are crucial for managing long-term effects of COVID-19.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the efficacy of exercise interventions for improving health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and functional fitness in adults with PACS.
• To synthesize evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) following PRISMA guidelines.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search across multiple databases, including PROSPERO registration CRD42024517069.
• Inclusion of RCTs focusing on adults aged 40-60 diagnosed with PACS, evaluating exercise interventions.
• Assessment of study quality and risk of bias for HRQoL and functional fitness outcomes.

Main Results:

• Twenty RCTs were included in the review.
• The majority of studies (13 for HRQoL, 14 for functional fitness) demonstrated a low risk of bias.
• An 8-week multimodal exercise protocol (aerobic, strength, breathing) proved safe and effective in enhancing HRQoL and functional fitness.
• Telerehabilitation emerged as a viable alternative, offering comparable benefits while minimizing contagion risk.

Conclusions:

• A structured 8-week exercise regimen is a safe and effective strategy for rehabilitating individuals with PACS.
• Exercise interventions significantly improve both quality of life and functional capacity in PACS patients.
• Telerehabilitation presents a promising, accessible modality for PACS recovery, warranting further investigation into diverse exercise types and broader viral infection applicability.