Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has had a profound impact on individuals, communities, and healthcare systems. As the acute phase of the pandemic has been managed, attention has shifted to the long-term effects of the disease, often referred to as "Long COVID" or "post-COVID-19 syndrome." This manuscript explores the challenges and evidence-based approaches of physiotherapy and rehabilitation in addressing the persistent symptoms and functional limitations experienced by post-COVID-19 patients. An observational study was conducted with a sample size of 40 post-COVID-19 patients, aged 40-60 years, who experienced persistent symptoms and functional limitations. The study employed convenient sampling and utilized the "POST COVID FUNCTIONAL SCALE" to assess functional limitations and the "SF-36 SCALE" to measure health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Test-retest reliability and concurrent validity were assessed. The "POST COVID FUNCTIONAL SCALE" demonstrated high test-retest reliability (r = 0.837) with a significant p-value (< 0.001), indicating its consistency in measuring functional limitations over time. The concurrent validity assessment, comparing the PCFS with the "SF-36 SCALE," revealed statistically significant differences between the two measures, signifying that the PCFS effectively captures different aspects of patients' functional activities and HRQoL. This study contributes valuable insights into the reliability and validity of the "POST COVID FUNCTIONAL SCALE" for assessing the functional activities of post-COVID-19 patients. It emphasizes the role of physiotherapy and rehabilitation in addressing the recovery needs of post-COVID-19 patients and highlights the importance of interdisciplinary approaches. While the PCFS is a valuable tool for assessing functional limitations, it should be used in conjunction with other assessment tools and clinical judgment to offer a comprehensive evaluation. As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, ongoing research and collaboration among healthcare professionals are crucial to enhancing our understanding of Long COVID and developing effective rehabilitation strategies

Description