Francesco Agostini, Massimiliano Mangone, Pierangela Ruiu, Teresa Paolucci, Valter Santilli, Andrea Bernetti
Department of Anatomical and Histological Sciences, Legal Medicine and Orthopedics, Sapienza University, Italy. E-mail: francescoagostini.ff@gmail.com
DOI: 10.2340/16501977-2776

Objective: The aim of this review is to identify the best evidence to define rehabilitative approaches to acute and post-acute phases of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) disease.
Methods: A literature search (of PubMed, Google Scholar, PEDro and Cochrane databases) was perform-ed for relevant publications from January to April 2020.
Results: A total of 2,835 articles were retrieved, and the search resulted in a final total 31 published arti-cles. A narrative synthesis of the selected articles was then performed. Some studies examine the effect of the pandemic on rehabilitation services and provide suggestions for a new reorganization of these services. Other studies focus on COVID-19 sequelae, formulating recommendations for rehabilitative interventions.
Conclusion: For COVID-19 patients, an integrated rehabilitative process is recommended, involving a multidisciplinary and multi-professional team provid-ing neuromuscular, cardiac, respiratory, and swallowing interventions, and psychological support, in order to improve patients’ quality of life. The intervention of a physician expert in rehabilitation should assess the patient, and a dedicated intervention set up after thorough assessment of the patient’s clinical condition, in collaboration with all rehabilitation team professionals.

Rehabilitation, in a multidisciplinary and multi-professional setting, plays a pivotal role in the management of Covid-19 patients, focusing on respiratory and motor functions and it is therefore crucial to establish treatment strategies to guarantee an optimal recovery of these patients. We performed a review of the scientific literature. All the studies concerning respiratory rehabilitation treatments for Covid-19 patients were included. Respiratory rehabilitation has the goal of improve respiratory symptoms, preserve function and reduce complications and disability; it also has positive effects on the psychological sphere, reducing anxiety and depression that can frequently develop in this context.