Application of an EMG-Rehabilitation Robot in Patients with Post-Coronavirus Fatigue Syndrome (COVID-19)—A Feasibility Study

Ewa Zasadzka, Sławomir Tobis, Tomasz Trzmiel (), Renata Marchewka, Dominika Kozak, Anna Roksela, Anna Pieczyńska and Katarzyna Hojan
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Ewa Zasadzka: Department of Occupational Therapy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-781 Poznan, Poland
Sławomir Tobis: Department of Occupational Therapy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-781 Poznan, Poland
Tomasz Trzmiel: Department of Occupational Therapy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-781 Poznan, Poland
Renata Marchewka: Neurorehabilitation Ward, Greater Poland Provincial Hospital, 60-480 Poznan, Poland
Dominika Kozak: Department of Physiotherapy, University of Health Science, 85-067 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Anna Roksela: Egzotech sp. z o.o., 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Anna Pieczyńska: Department of Occupational Therapy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-781 Poznan, Poland
Katarzyna Hojan: Department of Occupational Therapy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-781 Poznan, Poland

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 16, 1-11

Abstract: This pilot study aimed to assess the safety and feasibility of an EMG-driven rehabilitation robot in patients with Post-Viral Fatigue (PVF) syndrome after COVID-19. The participants were randomly assigned to two groups (IG—intervention group and CG—control group) in an inpatient neurological rehabilitation unit. Both groups were assessed on admission and after six weeks of rehabilitation. Rehabilitation was carried out six days a week for six weeks. The patients in the IG performed additional training using an EMG rehabilitation robot. Muscle fatigue was assessed using an EMG rehabilitation robot; secondary outcomes were changes in hand grip strength, Fatigue Assessment Scale, and functional assessment scales (Functional Independence Measure, Barthel Index). Both groups improved in terms of the majority of measured parameters comparing pre- and post-intervention results, except muscle fatigue. Muscle fatigue scores presented non-significant improvement in the IG and non-significant deterioration in the CG. Using an EMG rehabilitation robot in patients with PVF can be feasible and safe. To ascertain the effectiveness of such interventions, more studies are needed, particularly involving a larger sample and also assessing the participants’ cognitive performance.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; exercises; physiotherapy; occupational therapy; hand grip strength (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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