Enhancing exercise intervention for patients with post-acute COVID-19 syndrome using mobile health technology: The COVIDReApp R..., 2024, Duenas et al

Enhancing exercise intervention for patients with post-acute COVID-19 syndrome using mobile health technology: The COVIDReApp randomised controlled trial protocol
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/20552076241247936

Abstract

Objectives
To analyse the effectiveness of a physical exercise programme guided by a mobile health technology system (COVIDReApp) for patients with post-acute COVID-19 syndrome. This syndrome is a multisystem disease that occurs in people with a history of COVID-19 between 1 and 3 months after the onset of the disease. This study will assess the impact of the intervention on fatigue, post-exertional dyspnoea, quality of life, pain severity, physical fitness, anxiety, depression and cognitive function. We also aim to analyse whether there are associations between the variables studied and the evolution of these associations during follow-up.

Design
A single-blind randomised controlled trial.

Methods
One hundred patients diagnosed with post-acute COVID-19 will be enrolled and randomly assigned to two groups. The experimental group will perform the intervention through a physical exercise programme guided by the COVIDReApp system, whereas the control group will perform the programme in paper format. Study outcomes will be collected at baseline and at 4, 12 and 24 weeks. Student's t-tests or Mann–Whitney U-tests will be used to analyse differences between groups, mixed ANOVA for differences over time and longitudinal structural equations for associations between variables at follow-up.

Discussion
This study is based on current evidence regarding exercise prescription recommendations for patients with post-acute COVID-19 syndrome. Our intervention is supported by a solid theoretical framework; however, challenges include tailoring the physical exercise programme to everyone's predominant symptoms and ensuring adherence to the programme.

 

They are assuming that exercise rehabilitation is already effective. The comparison is between a mobile app and paper versions.

 

Obviously if everything is personalized to each participant's abilities, there is nothing to compare as they are not doing the same things.

The exercises are detailed, for once, consisting mostly of some walking and some weights and calisthenics. Which they are then expected to gradually increase:

The reference to:

Is the updated 2021 guideline, which explicitly advises against this. So I guess they didn't read it, or something like that.

LOL, LMAO even:

As Mythbusters put it so well: "remember kids, the only difference between screwing around and science is writing it down".

 

ChatGPT-generated, perhaps.