RespiraConNosotros: A Viable Home-Based Telerehabilitation System for Respiratory Patients

Abstract

Currently, there are more than 1.55 million cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Spain. Of these, it is estimated that around 45% will present respiratory complications, which represents approximately 620,000 patients who will need respiratory rehabilitation. The health system has no resources for this huge quantity of patients after the hospital discharge to finish the complete recovery and avoid the chronicity of the symptoms. We propose an application named RespiraConNosotros. The application has been created and designed to guide users in performing respiratory rehabilitation exercises, especially for COVID-19 patients, and it also facilitates patient–physiotherapist contact via chat or video calling to help patients. It is accessible for all users and on all devices. All exercises would be guided and supervised by a specialized physiotherapist who suggests, adapts, and guides the exercise according to the function level of each patient. Data obtained was satisfactory; all patients pointed out the easy access, the intuitive format, and the advantage of communicating with an expert. Concerning functional assessment, all participants improved their score on the Borg scale after performing the intervention with the application.This platform would help respiratory patients to make rehabilitation treatments to recover their pulmonary function and to decrease or eliminate the possible complications they have. It never substitutes any prescribed treatment. In conclusion, RespiraConNosotros is a simple, viable, and safe alternative for the improvement and maintenance of respiratory capacity and patient’s functionality affected by COVID-19. It could be used as a complement to face-to-face treatment when the situation allows it.

Practices, awareness, and perception towards home-based COVID-19 management among the general population in Mangalore city in south India

“…However, 73% of these patients contacted their physiotherapist, which was more frequent during the first week of isolation. 7 Physiotherapy in the home environment involving positioning the body, manoeuvres to help clear secretions in the respiratory tract, strengthening deconditioned muscle and de-stressing the mind is beneficial in COVID-19 care. It also teaches self-management techniques to help patients independently carry out their day-to-day activities.…”

“… 11 This method can be used to train patients to perform proning, other chest expansion, and breathing exercises and active limb exercises. 7 This training approach has been successful in helping people perform these exercises correctly. 7 …”

Practices, awareness, and perception towards home-based COVID-19 management among the general population in south India

“…However, 73% of these patients contacted their physiotherapist and this was more frequent during the first week of isolation. 7 Physiotherapy in the home environment involving positioning the body, manoeuvres to help clear secretions in the respiratory tract, strengthening of deconditioned muscle and de-stressing of the mind is beneficial in COVID-19 care. It also teaches selfmanagement techniques to help patients carry out their day-to-day activities independently.…”

“…9 This method can be used to train patients to perform proning, other chest expansion and breathing exercises and active limb exercises. 7 This training approach has been successful in helping people perform these exercises correctly. 7 The recommended duration of hand washing with soap and water for 20 seconds according to international guidelines was known to little more than one-third of the participants in this study (Mayoclinic, 2021).…”

“…7 This training approach has been successful in helping people perform these exercises correctly. 7 The recommended duration of hand washing with soap and water for 20 seconds according to international guidelines was known to little more than one-third of the participants in this study (Mayoclinic, 2021). This is essential information for people to know and it should therefore be a focus of any awareness sessions in the community.…”