REHABILITATION NEEDS ASSESSMENT OF PATIENTS WITH MUSCULOSKELETAL SYMPTOMS AS PART OF A FUNCTIONAL POST COVID-19 RECOVERY STRATEGY Cover Image

ОЦЕНКА НА РЕХАБИЛИТАЦИОННИТЕ НУЖДИ НА ПАЦИЕНТИТЕ С МУСКУЛНО-СКЕЛЕТНИ СИМПТОМИ, КАТО ЧАСТ ОТ СТРАТЕГИЯТА ЗА ФУНКЦИОНАЛНО ВЪЗСТАНОВЯВАНЕ СЛЕД КОВИД-19
REHABILITATION NEEDS ASSESSMENT OF PATIENTS WITH MUSCULOSKELETAL SYMPTOMS AS PART OF A FUNCTIONAL POST COVID-19 RECOVERY STRATEGY

Author(s): Galina Mratskova
Subject(s): Social Sciences, Psychology, Sociology, Social psychology and group interaction, Health and medicine and law
Published by: Университет за национално и световно стопанство (УНСС)
Keywords: Rehabilitation post COVID-19; Recovery; Restoring of functional activity; Outpatient; Disability
Summary/Abstract: The study aim was to investigate the reasons for and needs towards the rehabilitation in post COVID-19 patients with musculoskeletal symptoms referred for outpatient physiotherapy. Methodology: 138 patients were included in the study with demographic characteristics and information about education, occupation, sport activities, post COVID-19 symptoms duration, acute infection treatment (inpatient/outpatient), persistent musculoskeletal symptoms type and duration, comorbidities, reasons for seeing a doctor specializing in physical medicine, active rehabilitation-seeking behavior – collected. Results: In the observed group, musculoskeletal symptoms persisted for 13(7-20) weeks in average. Most commonly, patients were referred for outpatient rehabilitation for: back pain (68.8%(95)), fatigue (46.4%(64)), myalgia 38.4%(53)), arthralgia (23.9%(33)), physical activity difficulties (20.3%(28)), other causes (10.1%(14)), and shortness of breath(6.5%(9)). 84%(117) of the patients gave more than one reason for seeing specialist and over 80% had comorbidities. Only 31%, had active health behavior and required to be referred for rehabilitation themselves. Conclusions: Rehabilitation is important part of the negative health outcomes reduction for post COVID-19 patients with musculoskeletal symptoms. Active behavior formation and education in the recovery phase is an essential component of long-term management of COVID-19 consequences.

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