Research ArticleScaling the Need, Benefits, and Risks Associated with COVID-19Acute and Postacute Care Rehabilitation: A Review

Sayed Zulfiqar Ali Shah ,1 Mohammad Nasb,1 Min Lu,1,2 Liangjiang Huang,1,2

Yizhao Wang,1,2 and Hong Chen 1,2

1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology,Wuhan 430030, China2WHO Collaborating Center for Training and Research in Rehabilitation, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College,Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China

Correspondence should be addressed to Hong Chen; chenhong1129@hotmail.com

Received 6 June 2020; Accepted 17 August 2020; Published 26 August 2020

Academic Editor: Francesco Giallauria

Copyright © 2020 Sayed Zulfiqar Ali Shah et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons AttributionLicense, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work isproperly cited.

Coronavirus is an RNA virus, which attacks the respiratory system causing complications including severe respiratory distress andpneumonia and many other symptoms. Recently, a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak emerged in Wuhan, which caused asignificant number of infections in China and resulted in a global pandemic. The main aim of this study is to review and summarizethe evidence regarding the supportive role of physical rehabilitation techniques in managing COVID-19-associated pneumonia. Inthis review, we also emphasize the use of rehabilitation techniques in the management of pneumonia in COVID-19-infectedpatients. Based on the evidence presented, we conclude that certain physical rehabilitation techniques and modalities could be ofgreat support in the management of COVID-19-associated pneumonia. The safety of staff and patients when applyingrehabilitation intervention requires attention. The combination of physical rehabilitation and medical treatment would result inimproved treatment outcomes, faster recovery, and shorter hospital stay. Many rehabilitation techniques are safe and feasibleand can be easily incorporated into the management protocol of COVID-19 victims. Decisions of early rehabilitation inductionshould be based on the patient’s medical condition and tolerability.

1. Background

Coronaviruses are crown-like enveloped viruses whichbelong to the Coronaviridae family [1, 2]. So far, six corona-viruses (229E, OC43, MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV, HKU1, andNL63) have been successfully identified [3] and can causedeadly infections in humans. The coronavirus severe acuterespiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak was first identifiedin 2002-2003 in Guangdong Province of China, whichinfected 8477 people in many Asian and European countries,as well as the United States. The disease was quickly trans-mitted from person to person via contact in householdsand healthcare settings, and later, the outbreak spiked mas-sively in communities [4]. In 2012, MERS-CoV had causedan outbreak in the Middle East and was therefore namedMiddle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) [5].

Coronaviruses are widely distributed around the globe.The CoV genetic variations, frequent genetic recombinationevents, multiple animal hosts, and animal-to-human inter-face are increasing the chances of the emergence of noveland more virulent coronaviruses [6]. A novel and more viru-lent coronavirus termed SARS-CoV-2 was identified inWuhan, Central China, in January 2020 when an outbreakof pneumonia of an unknown aetiology emerged [7]. Theoutbreak of this novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19, hasresulted in a global pandemic, and so far, 3,939,119 caseshave been reported worldwide, with 274,917 global deaths(5/10/2020) [8].

The purpose of this study was to review the evidenceregarding the supportive role of treatment options availablein physical rehabilitation to manage COVID-19 pneumoniaeffectively. We are also aiming to present our rehabilitation

HindawiRehabilitation Research and PracticeVolume 2020, Article ID 3642143, 9 pageshttps://doi.org/10.1155/2020/3642143

experience from China, the potential of local COVID-19transmission, staff safety, and infection control during rehabil-itation interventions. Evidence strongly supports that manyrehabilitation techniques including chest physiotherapy andphysical therapy modalities can be of great support to manageCOVID-19-associated pneumonia [9, 10]. Combined medicaland rehabilitation therapy would result in improved treatmentoutcomes in coronavirus-infected patients.

2. Methods

Potential relevant articles were identified through a PubMed,Ovid, and Google Scholar search. English and Chinese lan-guage studies of mixed designs were reviewed, focusing ondifferent aspects of rehabilitation of coronavirus-infectedpatients.

3. Diagnosis

SARS-CoV-2 can be isolated through RT-PCR and genera-tion sequencing of the nucleic acid extracted from the sam-

ples collected from the respiratory system of the infectedpatients. Investigations for the diagnosis should include rou-tine complete blood count, serum analysis, and computedtomographic (CT) scans for assessing pulmonary changes.Clinical signs and symptoms, chest radiography, and rulingout of other pathogens play an important role in the diag-nosis of coronavirus-associated pneumonia [11, 12]. InFigures 1–3, we have shown CT images of three cases ofpneumonia taken at the onset of symptoms featuring dif-ferent stages of the disease.

4. Coronavirus Mechanism of Transmission

It is clear that SARS-CoV-2 is more transmissible thanSARS-CoV, but transmission dynamics, mode, and route oftransmission remain unclear [13]. Along with the zoonotictransmission to humans due to sustained human-to-animalcontact, human-to-human spread of coronaviruses (SARSand MERS-CoVs) was also confirmed. Human-to-humantransmission was mostly seen when there was sustained con-tact with infected individuals, for example, in healthcare

Figure 1: Chest CT scans of a COVID-19 pneumonia patient on day 5 of the onset of symptoms.

Figure 2: Chest CT scans of a COVID-19 pneumonia patient on day 9 of the onset of symptoms.

Figure 3: Chest CT scans of a COVID-19 pneumonia patient on day 14 of the onset of symptoms.

2 Rehabilitation Research and Practice

settings and households [14]. It is also suggested that forhuman coronavirus infection, an intermediate host may notbe required [15]. Coronavirus transmission through respira-tory droplets, human contact, or contaminated objects likeclothes and utensils was confirmed by many studies [16, 17].

4.1. COVID-2019 Nosocomial Transmission. COVID-19 haslocal transmission, and healthcare workers can transmit thevirus to patients and wards if proper measures during treat-ment are not taken. Earlier, it was reported that in a cohortof 138 pneumonia patients, 17 patients and 40 healthcareproviders were thought to have been infected within the hos-pital [12]. Chest physiotherapy and faecal management havebeen declared as a high-risk procedure [18]. The exhaled orleaked air during noninvasive ventilation (NIV) can propa-gate virus dispersion, thus increasing the facility-based infec-tion rate [19]. Simonds et al. addressed the droplet dispersionduring CPT, NIV, oxygen therapy (O2), and nebulizer use inpatients with lung disease and coryzal symptoms. It wasreported that CPT and NIV are droplet-generating tech-niques but not aerosol-generating techniques and produceddroplets of >10μm in size. A nebulizer was declared asaerosol-generating therapy. The study recommended thathealthcare staff performing NIV and CPT within 1m of thepatients should use high protective measures [19].

4.2. Healthcare Staff Safety and Infection Control. All staffmust be trained in infection control measures, proper don-ning and doffing of personal protective equipment (PPE),correct hand washing procedure, and wearing head and shoecovers, gloves, plastic aprons or gowns, and certified N95masks with 95% or more filtering ability of aerosol particlesof 0.3μ [18]. Previous experience from SARS has shown thatrehabilitation specialists should be cautious because ofpotential aerial transmission while applying NIV therapies[18]. A sealed plastic bag should be used to cover the mouthduring expectoration to prevent the spread of infection [20].Since the virus spreads through respiratory droplets or aero-sol particles, for staff safety, a positive air-purifying respirator(PAPR) is highly recommended. PAPR is a battery-operateddevice, which expels filtered air and helps in the prevention ofinhaling the virus, which is necessary while performing suc-tioning or other techniques generating such particles anddroplets. Heat generation, movement restrictions, deviceweight, and non-air-conditioned environments make wear-ing PAPR difficult for staff [21]. Care should be taken whileperforming CPT and postural drainage as these techniquesproduce coughing and assist in expectorating secretions.Therefore, the above techniques and use of nebulizers shouldbe carried out in closed rooms, with staff wearing PPE andPAPR. Faecal management and the disposal of diapersshould be done while wearing PPE [22]. The N95 maskincreases the breathing rate, inducing early fatigue and evendizziness in some staff members. The PPE use was especiallytroublesome in pregnant staff and in tropical regions [18].Healthcare workers with respiratory problems who foundwearing PPE such as N95 difficult, or staff suffering fromwet eczema who found that it could become worse by follow-ing some of the protective measures including frequent hand

washing and gloves, should not be compelled to work in areasrequiring high PPE protective measures [23]. Research hasshown that the virus can transmit locally and through sur-faces of physiotherapy equipment including modality probes,pads, therapy balls, and hot packs. It is recommended toclean surfaces with 62-71% ethanol which inactivates thevirus within a minute; otherwise, it could remain on the sur-face for a longer period of time [24].

5. Rehabilitation

5.1. Rehabilitation Necessity. Longitudinal studies havereported that due to long periods of bed rest, some patholog-ical changes including pulmonary fibrosis, alveolitis, atelecta-sis, muscular weakness, and other neuromuscular problemsmay persist [25]. The aforementioned problems in SARSpatients impair the quality of life, cause dyspnea on exertion,and lead to residual pulmonary dysfunction [26, 27].We spec-ulate that extensive lung damage, multiple organ failure insome COVID-19 patients, and longer bed rest may causeresidual pathological problems, physical dysfunction, andfunctional limitations which provide strong evidence for theincorporation of rehabilitation into COVID-19 management.

5.2. Rehabilitation Evidence. Common problems identified inCOVID-19 patients that could be managed by rehabilitationspecialists in the postacute phase include musculoskeletalpain, joint pain, reduced range of motion, muscular weak-ness, neuropathy and myopathy, pulmonary dysfunction,dysphagia, dyspnea, confusion, and impaired activities ofdaily living. It remains unclear whether the impact of theproblems mentioned would persist in the chronic phase[28]. Long-term exposure to corticosteroid therapy can causemany musculoskeletal problems. After the SARS outbreak inChina at the end of 2002, Chinese and international literaturereported many cases of avascular osteonecrosis (AVN) [29–31]. Drug therapy represents an essential treatment of pneu-monia, whereas some other treatments are mainly support-ive, including but not limited to intravenous hydration,supplementary oxygen, and chest physiotherapy [32]. Chestphysiotherapy is commonly used as an adjuvant treatmentfor pneumonia [33]. Chest physiotherapy aids in the treat-ment of symptoms of several respiratory disorders, whichare the most familiar cause of both morbidity and mortalityin ICU patients [34]. In such cases, physiotherapy is aimedat improving the patient’s respiratory system in addition toaccelerating recovery by enhancing airway clearance anddecreasing airway resistance in lung conditions accompa-nied by hypersecretion and increased airway resistance.Chest physiotherapy is a key treatment for individuals withcopious secretions (>30ml per day) and decreased ability tocough [35].

A six-week pulmonary rehab program of discharged 133SARS patients included aerobic exercise and upper and lowerextremity exercise. The experimental group was given pul-monary rehabilitation including aerobic exercise, upper andlower extremity exercises, while the control group receivedonly conventional care, the study reported significant

3Rehabilitation Research and Practice

improvement in oxygen consumption, 6-minute walk testand muscle strength in experimental group [36].

5.3. Rehabilitation Recommendations, Guidelines, andExperience from China. Chinese experts and frontlineCOVID-19 doctors developed pulmonary rehabilitationguidelines with short-term goals of relieving dyspnea andanxiety and long-term goals of functional improvement,enhancing quality of life, and bringing the patient to a normalsocietal level. The Chinese rehabilitation protocol broadlyincluded aerobic exercises and strength, balance, respiratory,and healthcare training, using traditional Chinese medicine.According to Chinese experts, the consensus rehabilitationprogram should be stopped if the patient has peripheral cap-illary oxygen saturation ðSpO2Þ < 88% or reports chest tight-ness, palpitations, sweating, and dyspnea, which areconsidered inappropriate for rehabilitation [37].

Group therapies should be discontinued, and practiceshould be one-on-one mostly at the bedside [21].

According to consensus-based acute care physiotherapyrecommendations developed in Qatar, rehabilitation patientscould be categorized into the following six categories: Cate-gory A (paralyzed, ventilated, and sedated), Category B (ven-tilated and minimally sedated), Category C (no mechanicalventilation), Category C.1 (bedridden but minimally con-scious), Category C.2 (conscious and active but dependent),and Category C.3 (independent, active, and conscious). Cat-egory-wise, rehabilitation interventions were recommendedas follows: A: passive range of motion (PROM), positioning;B: positioning, PROM, and graded mobility; and C: C.1: posi-tioning, PROM, and mobilization; C.2: ROM, progressivestrengthening, and coordination exercises; C.3: ROM,breathing exercises, and graded ambulation [38].

5.4. Early Rehabilitation? The weaning phase and referral torehabilitation should be staged and gradual: a gap of threeweeks each is suggested for moving ICU patients to anacute care ward and finally rehabilitation. COVID-19 pneu-monia patients have to remain immobilized and stay inprone positions for longer hours, due to which early reha-bilitation induction may not be tolerable. A sudden dropin saturation, fatigue, and worsening of respiratory symp-toms could occur [28].

5.5. COVID-19 Acute Care Rehabilitation

5.5.1. Active Cycle of Breathing Technique (ACBT). It refers tothe technique, which is used to mobilize and clear pulmonarysecretions in addition to improving lung function. It includestwo phases: the first phase is aimed at relaxing the airways bythoracic expansion exercises and the second phase is theForced Expiratory Technique (FET), which involves a huffand cough breathing exercise, which is used to help clearsecretions from the airways (Figure 4) [39]. Note: as thesetechniques create droplets, the benefits and risks should beweighed up before applying them [40].

5.5.2. Postural Drainage with Percussion (PD & P). It is theusage of force of gravity combined with percussion (clappingon the chest and/or back) to release the thick, sticky mucus

from the lung peripheries to remove it easily by coughing.Lots of studies have shown its effectiveness in treating pneu-monia cases [41, 42]. PD includes comfortably lying in theproper gravity-assisted drainage position depending on theaffected lung zones. In each position, the chest wall shouldbe percussed for three to five minutes, followed by deepbreathing exercises accompanied by vibrations on expirationand then two to three huffs. The patient should then beencouraged to cough and expectorate the dislodged secre-tions. This is followed by a short rest interval of controlledbreathing between two cycles. This cycle is repeated for eachposition, respectively. This treatment is usually done twicedaily or according to the patient’s situation. Each cycle takesapproximately 30 minutes [43].

Note: scale the expected improvement first; some posi-tions are difficult to achieve, and also, changing position isassociated with droplet generation.

5.5.3. Noninvasive Ventilation (NIV). NIV therapy throughCPAP and HFNO can manage hypoxia, improve respiratoryfailure, and help in delaying or avoiding endotracheal intuba-tion [44]. Invasive ventilation techniques should be adoptedif the patient did not respond to NIV quickly [45]. The appli-cation of NIV in a properly ventilated ward with negativepressure could be helpful [46].

5.5.4. Positive Expiratory Pressure (PEP). It is a device used tooffer positive expiratory pressure during expiration rangingfrom 10 to 25 cmH2O. PEP can help in keeping the airwaysopen during expiration which could enable airway clearance.

5.5.5. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). It is atreatment technique that is aimed at improving the oxygensaturation of patients using a high-pressure gas to provide aconstant pressure in the airways in both inspiration and expi-ration in patients breathing spontaneously. CPAP maskscould be placed over the nose or mouth [47]. Brambillaet al. revealed that CPAP could decrease the risk of meetingendotracheal intubation criteria in patients with severe hyp-oxemic acute respiratory failure caused by pneumonia [48].Recommendation: it is recommended that if an hour treat-ment with CPAP/NIV did not bring significant improvementin symptoms, patients should proceed to invasive ventilation[44]. A single-tube CPAP with an exhalation port, antiviralfilter, and nonvented mask is highly recommended [45].

5.5.6. Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BI-PAP). It deliverstwo different levels of pressure throughout the respiratorycycle: a higher pressure with inspiration which is called inspi-ratory positive airway pressure (IPAP) and a lower one dur-ing the expiration which is called expiratory positive airwaypressure (EPAP). When the patient begins to inhale orexhale, the device automatically shifts between EPAP andIPAP settings. BI-PAP could enhance comfort for patientswho suffer from breathing out difficulty [49].

5.5.7. Suctioning. It is the removal of secretions throughnegative pressure. The manual techniques mentioned so farare effective to cough up the sputum or mobilize it to thecentral airways, and from there, it can be easily removed by

4 Rehabilitation Research and Practice

suctioning with a pressure of 11–16 kPa, or 20 if the secre-tions are thick, for 15 seconds. The catheter used for suction-ing should be smaller than half of the diameter of theendotracheal tube or tracheostomy. The injection of sodiumchloride before commencing suction can loosen the secre-tions in the presence of thick secretions [50]. Recommenda-tion: open circuit suctioning is not recommended as it causesdispersion of respiratory droplets. Disconnection from theventilator may cause a loss of positive end expiratory pres-sure and worsen the atelectasis [40].

5.5.8. Changing Posture.A prone position is suggested for 12-16 hours daily. When the PaO2/FiO2 ratio (P/F) reaches≥150mmHg with PEEP ≤ 10 cmH2O and FiO2 ≤ 0:60 for atleast four hours after supine positioning, prone positioningshould be stopped [51]. Note: changing position may arousecough and produce respiratory droplets, so unnecessarilychanging posture is not recommended.

5.5.9. Mobility. Passive ROM exercises are recommended todelay muscular weakness, cure reduced ROM due to immo-bility, and prevent integumentary problems [45]. Note:active mobility is not recommended in acute care, due to

the chances of sudden desaturation and respiratory dropletgeneration.

5.6. Chest Physiotherapy Precautions and Contraindications.Postural drainage (PD) is relatively contraindicated inpatients with raised intracranial pressure (ICP), fresh spinalinjury, recent eye surgery, hemodynamic instability, herniaof the diaphragm, and patients who went through esophagealanastomosis recently. Additionally, precautions should betaken while performing PD in pleural effusion, hemoptysis,pleural edema, and ascites patients. Chest percussion andvibration are relatively contradicted in hemoptysis, neglectedtension pneumothorax, pulmonary embolism, open wounds,low platelet count, hemodynamic instability, and fresh tho-racic skin graft patients. While performing percussion andvibration alone or together with PD, precaution is requiredin patients with osteoporosis, rib fractures, and broncho-spasm, as well as in recent pacemaker transplant patients[52]. Positive pressure therapies need tremendous cautionin unstable hemodynamic conditions and patients with cra-nial, facial, or oral surgeries [50]. CPAP is contraindicatedin severe facial injuries, skull fractures, undrained pneumo-thorax, paralytic ileus, and surgical emphysema [53]. Thereis a variety of contraindications to endotracheal suctioning

DB3-5

DB3-5

BC

BC

BC

If still not clear thenrepeat the cycle

Cough

Huffs2-3

ACBTIn relaxed sitting position

Breathe inslowly and

deeply throughnose and

gently breatheout through

mouthClear upperairway

secretions

Clear lowerairway

secretions

Only neededif huff doesn’t

clearsecretions

BC should beused on

breathlessness

High-Vhuff

Mid-V-huff

Figure 4: Active Cycle of Breathing Technique (ACBT).

5Rehabilitation Research and Practice

differing from case to case, but the most common are bron-chospasm and raised ICP. In cases reporting bleeding disor-ders, epiglottitis, skull or facial injuries, and laryngospasm,suctioning is contraindicated [54].

5.7. Ultrashortwave Therapy (USWT). Chinese literature hasprudently proven that USWT has anti-inflammatory andanalgesic effects in pulmonary infection. The application ofCurapulse 970™ shortwave diathermy machines and twoRadarmed 950+™ microwave machines was performed, andthe results were promising for COVID-19 treatment. Thetreatment session involved the application of the USWT elec-trode on the anterior and posterior parts of the trunk for15m/d till patient discharge [55]. A review of the biologicaleffects of shortwave concluded that based SW has fewer sideeffects and more benefits, but they also require furtherresearch on the side effects [56]. Chinese USWT literaturein pulmonary conditions is prevailing because of the wideuse of USWT in such conditions. Chinese studies had shownsignificant results on the use of USWT for different pulmo-nary conditions in humans and animals. Some of the studiesare Zhang et al. [57] on therapeutic effects of USWT onSARS, Zhang et al. [58] on USWT in type 1I respiratory fail-ure, Zhou et al. [59] on USWT in interstitial fibrosis in pre-clinical models, and Hou et al. who utilized SWD inbactericidal and virucidal problems [60]. Some of these stud-ies claimed to be randomized controlled trials (RCTs), butthey were lacking the features of an RCT and also did notprovide important details regarding USWT therapy. It haspreviously been shown that raising the temperature decreasesthe activity and viability of viruses [61]. Thus, and dependingon earlier studies, the utilization of shortwave diathermycould aid in such infectious conditions [60, 62]. Shortwavediathermy (SWD) is among the first physiotherapy modali-ties, and it remains in use in rehabilitation departments. Ithas been also used to treat a wide range of conditions [63].Moreover, pulsed SWD was the third most commonly usedphysiotherapy in the UK [64]. The therapeutic effects ofSWD on the body parts include the production of efficientdeep heating in human body structures within the physiolog-ical limits [65]. If applied to a specific muscle, SWD roughlyraises its temperature to approximately 15.14°C, while theapplication of SWD on lungs would not cause it to rise to thattemperature, as the lungs own an efficient water cooling sys-tem in addition to the pulmonary circulation which preventsany substantial rising of local heating. This feature supportsthe safety of SWD and prevents tissue damage [65]. More-over, the practical application of SWD showed promisingeffects on relieving thoracic pain, dyspnea, and cyanosis.

5.7.1. SWD Contraindications. The contraindications forshortwave diathermy include the presence of internal metal-lic objects in the treatment field, such as an intrauterinedevice, pacemakers, and metal implants. Moreover, SWD iscontraindicated to be applied on the following body partsand conditions: malignancy, pregnancy, menstruation, theeyes, gonads and growing epiphyses, ischemic tissues, hem-orrhagic areas, venous thrombosis/phlebitis, cardiac condi-tions, blood pressure abnormalities, impaired sensation, wet

dressings or adhesive tape, and open wounds. In addition,use on a pregnant uterus should be avoided. Due to the riskof tissue burns and necrosis, precautions need to be takenbefore proceeding with treatment because sweating couldcause tissue burn [66]. Moreover, patients should not moveduring the treatment, as it could result in burning the subcu-taneous fat necrosis [67, 68].

Although Chinese literature and some other studies haveproven the effectiveness of USWT in pulmonary infectionand reported fewer or no side effects, USWT is still debatedaround the globe. To address this ambiguous situation aboutthe therapeutic efficacy of USWT, we conducted a rigorouslydesigned RCT in Tongji Hospital, Wuhan. The results of thestudy are promising regarding different aspects of COVID-19 treatment. The study will be published soon.

5.8. COVID-19 Postacute Care Rehabilitation. The postacutecare phase has been considered as more appropriate for com-mencing rehabilitation in COVID-19 patients as most of thepatients appear to be medically stable at this stage and cantolerate individual rehabilitation programs. ROM, strength-ening, balance and coordination exercises, mild treadmilluse, and respiratory therapy if needed have been recom-mended [36, 37]. Moreover, telerehabilitation can be intro-duced in this phase, offering comparative effectiveness andmore safety [37].

5.9. Telerehabilitation: A Better Option. There is a lack of evi-dence to support the use of telerehabilitation during a pan-demic. However, telerehabilitation offers online assessmentand treatment sessions without exposure of the practitionerto an infection-prone environment. On the other hand, tele-rehabilitation is a better choice for patients at higher risk ofCOVID-19mortality, such as immunocompromised individ-uals and diabetes patients. E-physio, online assessment, andtherapy sessions on webcams could be helpful [23]. Withadvancement in technology and portable devices, intelligentpractice and digital rehabilitation offer more safety and com-parable effectiveness is possible today. Downloadable appli-cations are available with video and textual trainings forrespiratory exercises. Such devices are effective in offeringassessment, feedback, therapy reminders, and treatment pro-gression [37]. Another study also recommended the use oftelerehabilitation, training videos, and brochures in order tosave PPEs and reduce the spread of infection [20].

5.10. Procedures Not to Be Applied in the Acute Phase.COVID-19 patients have reduced respiratory efficiency andless strength of respiratory muscles, so techniques thatexhaust such patients should not be applied. The followingrespiratory therapy procedures are not recommended in theCOVID-19 acute phase: pursed lip and diaphragmaticbreathing, reexpansion techniques for lungs, use of incentivespirometer, and rib mobilization [45].

6. Conclusion

Based on the evidence presented, we conclude that certainphysical rehabilitation techniques and modalities could be ofgreat support in managing COVID-19-associated pneumonia.

6 Rehabilitation Research and Practice

A combination of physical rehabilitation and medical treat-ment would result in better treatment outcomes, quick recov-ery, and shorter hospital stays. Early rehabilitation is notrecommended because of less tolerability; however if thepatient’s condition permits, and the benefits outweigh therisks, rehabilitation should be commenced early. Telerehabil-itation should be considered in COVID-19 patients, whichcould offer less staff and patient exposure and more safety,as well as save PPE.

Disclosure

This manuscript is our own work. The manuscript is notunder consideration for publication in any other journal.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Authors’ Contributions

Author HC contributed to the conception of the study,supervision of the manuscript writing, guidelines for rehabil-itation techniques, and proofreading and drafting of themanuscript. SZAS and MN equally contributed to reviewingthe literature and writing the manuscript. Authors ML, LH,and YW contributed to identifying the relevant literatureand daily updating the data regarding the number of corona-virus infections in Mainland China. All authors have readand finalized this manuscript for publishing. Sayed ZulfiqarAli Shah and Mohammad Nasb made equal contributionsto this study and are the first authors.

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