Effect of Aerobic Exercises versus Incentive Spirometer Device on post-covid Pulmonary Fibrosis Patients

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Master student of Department of Basic Science, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University

2 Basic Science Department, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University.

3 Consultant of occupational medicine, El-Kasr El-Einy Hospitals, Cairo University

10.21608/iptccu.2024.457156

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 virus outbreak severely harmed the survivors' quality of life and their cardiopulmonary system. Purpose: Evaluate Aerobic Exercises Versus Incentive-Spirometery in treating post-COVID pulmonary fibrosis. Subjects and Methods: 45 patients had post-COVID respiratory complications aged between 40-80 years old and were randomly divided into 3 groups, study groups (A,B) and control group (C). Each group had 15 patients all received traditional chest physiotherapy (Breathing Exercises, Postural Drainage, Percussion, Coughing, and Vibration) 5 times/week for 2 months. Group (A) received aerobic exercises, Group (B) received incentive spirometer training, and Group (C) received only traditional chest physiotherapy. Results: showed high significant increases in six-minute walk and lung function tests while significant decreases in heart rates of the group (A) compared with that of (B) and (C) (p <0.05). There were significant increases in forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in the first second and six-minute walk distance tests and a significant decrease in the maximum heart rate of group (B) compared with that of (C) (p <0.05) while no significant difference in peak expiratory flow and resting heart rate between group (B) and (C) post-treatment (p >0.05). Conclusion: The application of both aerobic exercises and incentive-spirometer therapy with traditional chest physiotherapy had a valuable effect in the treatment of post-COVID pulmonary fibrosis. However aerobic exercises had the greatest positive effect.

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