Abstract

Objective: There is increasing evidence that many individuals who recover from COVID-19 may experience persistent functional deficits. These patients may need additional care to ensure safe and effective participation in activities of daily living and to prevent future complications. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of a 5-week physical therapy program on a patient after hospitalization for COVID-19.
Methods: A 77-year-old female patient referred to an outpatient physical therapy center underwent a physical therapy program designed for COVID-19 rehabilitation for 5 weeks. The program included aerobic exercise and training of gait, lower extremity strength, functional tasks, and balance. The program’s outcomes included the following: 6-minute walk test, 5 times sit-to-stand test, single-limb balance, manual lower extremity strength, and the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information SystemGlobal-10. Heart rate, oxygen saturation, and blood pressure monitoring occurred at each session.
Results: The patient improved the 6-minute walk test by 259 feet, single-limb balance by 8 seconds on the right limb and 4 seconds on the left limb, and manual lower extremity strength to at least 4+/5 (from 4-/5) with the tested muscles. She improved her Patient-Reported Outcomes T-score by 17.90 and 9.80 points on the physical and mental subscales, respectively. She reported decreased fatigue when performing her activities of daily living and transitioned from walking with a front-wheeled walker to walking unassisted.
Conclusions: A 5-week physical therapy program was associated with improved outcomes and participation in activities of daily living in the patient after hospitalization for COVID-19. As such, this case report supports the efficacy of such a program to improve function and to reduce the likelihood of future complications in individuals who are experiencing functional deficits after COVID-19.