Management of Long COVID-The CoviMouv' Pilot Study: Importance of Adapted Physical Activity for Prolonged Symptoms Following SARS-CoV2 Infection

Claire Colas; Manon Bayle; Pierre Labeix; Elisabeth Botelho-Nevers; Amandine Gagneux-Brunon; Céline Cazorla; Flora Schein; Emma Breugnon; Arnauld Garcin; Léonard Feasson; Frédéric Roche; David Hupin

doi:10.3389/fspor.2022.877188

Management of Long COVID-The CoviMouv' Pilot Study: Importance of Adapted Physical Activity for Prolonged Symptoms Following SARS-CoV2 Infection

Front Sports Act Living. 2022 Jul 1:4:877188. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2022.877188. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Claire Colas^{1

2

3

4}, Manon Bayle², Pierre Labeix^{1

2}, Elisabeth Botelho-Nevers^{5

6

7}, Amandine Gagneux-Brunon^{5

6

7}, Céline Cazorla⁵, Flora Schein⁵, Emma Breugnon⁵, Arnauld Garcin^{1

8}, Léonard Feasson^{2

4

9}, Frédéric Roche^{1

2

3}, David Hupin^{1

2

3

10}

Affiliations

¹ INSERM, U1059, SAINBIOSE, DVH, Lyon University, Jean Monnet University, Saint-Étienne, France.
² Department of Clinical and Exercise Physiology, University Hospital Center, Saint-Étienne, France.
³ Chaire Santé des Ainés, Presage Institute, Jean Monnet University, Lyon University, Saint-Étienne, France.
⁴ Chaire ActiFS, Presage Institute, Jean Monnet University, Lyon University, Saint-Étienne, France.
⁵ Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Center, Saint-Étienne, France.
⁶ Chaire PreVacCI, Presage Institute, Lyon University, Jean Monnet University, Saint-Étienne, France.
⁷ CIRI, Team GIMAP, Univ Lyon, Université Jean Monnet, INSERM, U1111, CNRS, UMR530, Saint-Étienne, France.
⁸ Innovation and Pharmacology Clinical Research Unit, University Hospital of Saint-Etienne, Saint-Étienne, France.
⁹ Interuniversity Laboratory of Human Movement Biology, EA 7424, Lyon University, Jean Monnet University, Saint-Étienne, France.
¹⁰ Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.

Abstract

Context: After a COVID-19 infection, some patients have persistent symptoms, the most common is fatigue. To prevent it from becoming chronic (post-COVID-19 syndrome), early management before 3 months could be useful. Exercise and education are recommended.

Objective: To assess fatigue in patients with prolonged symptoms after COVID-19 infection and who received a mixed program of remote adapted physical activity and therapeutic education. The secondary objective was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this training method thanks to aerobic and anaerobic parameters.

Methods: "CoviMouv': From Coaching in Visual to Mouv in real" is a nonrandomized controlled pilot study. Patients in telerehabilitation followed 12 remote exercise sessions and 3 therapeutic education workshops. Patients on traditional rehabilitation followed their program with a community-based physiotherapist.

Results: Fatigue was reduced after the one-month intervention in both groups (p = 0.010). The majority of aerobic parameters were significantly improved, e.g., maximal oxygen uptake (p = 0.005), walking distance (p = 0.019) or hyperventilation values (p = 0.035). The anaerobic parameter was not improved (p = 0.400). No adverse event was declared.

Discussion: Telerehabilitation is a good alternative when a face-to-face program is not possible. This care at an early stage of the disease could help prevent the chronicity of post-COVID-19 symptoms and the installation of vicious circles of physical deconditioning. A larger study would be necessary.

Keywords: COVID-19; education; exercise; fatigue; long COVID; ongoing symptomatic COVID-19; physical capacities.