Systematic Review of COVID-19-Related Physical Activity-Based Rehabilitations: Benefits to Be Confirmed by More Robust Methodological Approaches

Mélina Bailly, Léna Pélissier, Emmanuel Coudeyre, Bertrand Evrard, Rea Bingula, Corinne Rochette, Laurent Mériade, Christelle Blavignac, Anne-Cécile Fournier, Yves-Jean Bignon, Fabrice Rannou, Frédéric Dutheil, David Thivel and Martine Duclos
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Mélina Bailly: Centre de Recherche en Nutrition Humaine (CRNH), Laboratoire des Adaptations Métaboliques à l’Exercice en Conditions Physiologiques et Pathologiques (AME2P), Unité de Formation et de Recherche (UFR) des Sciences et Techniques des Activités Physiques et Sportives (STAPS), Université Clermont Auvergne, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
Léna Pélissier: Centre de Recherche en Nutrition Humaine (CRNH), Laboratoire des Adaptations Métaboliques à l’Exercice en Conditions Physiologiques et Pathologiques (AME2P), Unité de Formation et de Recherche (UFR) des Sciences et Techniques des Activités Physiques et Sportives (STAPS), Université Clermont Auvergne, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
Emmanuel Coudeyre: Service de Médecine Physique et de Réadaptation, Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Unité de Nutrition Humaine (UNH), Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Clermont-Ferrand, Université Clermont Auvergne, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
Bertrand Evrard: Service d’Immunologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Gabriel-Montpied, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
Rea Bingula: Micro-Environnement CellulaiRE, Immunomodulation et Nutrition (ECREIN), Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) 1019 Unité de Nutrition Humaine (UNH), Université Clermont Auvergne, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
Corinne Rochette: Health and Territory Chair, Université Clermont Auvergne, CleRMa, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
Laurent Mériade: Health and Territory Chair, Université Clermont Auvergne, CleRMa, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
Christelle Blavignac: Centre Imagerie Cellulaire Santé, Université Clermont Auvergne, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
Anne-Cécile Fournier: Cluster Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Innovation Innovatherm, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
Yves-Jean Bignon: U1240 Imagerie Moléculaire et Stratégies Théranostiques, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Université Clermont Auvergne, 63000 Clermont Ferrand, France
Fabrice Rannou: Service de Médecine du Sport et des Explorations Fonctionnelles, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Clermont-Ferrand, Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Unité de Nutrition Humaine (UNH), Centre de Recherche en Nutrition Humaine (CRNH) Auvergne, Université Clermont Auvergne, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
Frédéric Dutheil: Preventive and Occupational Medicine, LaPSCo, Physiological and Psychosocial Stress, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Clermont-Ferrand, Witty Fit, Université Clermont Auvergne, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
David Thivel: Centre de Recherche en Nutrition Humaine (CRNH), Laboratoire des Adaptations Métaboliques à l’Exercice en Conditions Physiologiques et Pathologiques (AME2P), Unité de Formation et de Recherche (UFR) des Sciences et Techniques des Activités Physiques et Sportives (STAPS), Université Clermont Auvergne, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
Martine Duclos: Service de Médecine du Sport et des Explorations Fonctionnelles, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Clermont-Ferrand, Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Unité de Nutrition Humaine (UNH), Centre de Recherche en Nutrition Humaine (CRNH) Auvergne, Université Clermont Auvergne, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 15, 1-17

Abstract: The first emergency was to receive and treat COVID-19 patients in their acute phase; today, there is a clear need to propose appropriate post-acute rehabilitation programs. The aim of this research was to systematically review the effects of physical activity programs in the recovery of post-COVID-19 patients. The literature search followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, was registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42022289219), and was conducted between August and December 2021. A total of 35 studies out of the 1528 initially identified were finally included in the analysis. The systematic review clearly showed the health benefits of rehabilitation including physical activity in post-COVID-19 recovery, regardless of exercise modalities. These positive results were even observed using minor muscle re-mobilization for severe cases (i.e., postural changes, few steps—2 times/day) or using low volumes of exercise for mild-to-moderate cases (i.e., 120 min/week). A total of 97% of the 29 studies that performed statistical analyses demonstrated a significant increase in at least one parameter of functional capacity, and 96% of the 26 studies that statistically investigated the effects on the quality of life, mental health, and general state reported improvements. Yet, most of the studies were retrospective, uncontrolled, and enrolled aged people with comorbidities presented in severe forms of COVID-19. Physical activity programs, in addition to their high heterogeneity, remained poorly described in 83% of the studies and were part of a multidisciplinary program for 89% of the studies. Despite promising results, there is today a real need for prospective well-designed studies specifically assessing the effects of physical activity. In addition, it might appear relevant to propose standardized programs further considering the main characteristics of patients such as age, comorbidities, or the severity of COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; physical activity; rehabilitation; functional capacity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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