Manual Therapy Approach to Long Haulers and Respiration

Research Objectives: To investigate if a combination of physical therapy intervention via telehealth can help improve “long haulers” complain of overall fatigue, breathlessness with activities of daily living, and vocal fatigue.

Design: Treatment includes self-massage, stretching, and strengthening to the muscles surrounding the rib cage and chest wall.

The purpose of the research was to see if a combination of physical therapy intervention via telehealth could help improve “long haulers” complain of overall fatigue, breathlessness with activities of daily living, and vocal fatigue. The study included self-massage, stretching, and strengthening to the muscles surrounding the rib cage and chest wall.

Setting: This study took place remotely/online.

Participants: There were three participants in this study. We worked with the online communities to get participation. Participants received a pedometer and pulse oximeter. Participation was free.

Interventions: Participation in this study involved:
- Guided sessions of stretching, by a speech and physical therapist twice a week for 45 minute sessions for 6 weeks
- Completing two surveys
- Utilizing a pulse oximeter to check oxygen saturation and a pedometer to check walking length

Main Outcome Measures: It is the goal of this study to see if a combination of physical therapy and speech therapy intervention via telehealth can help improve “long haulers” overall fatigue, breathlessness with activities of daily living, and vocal fatigue.

Results: Currently the data is being calculated and finalized. The preliminary findings suggest that the intervention shows that BORG exertion scale levels were reduced by nearly 50% with walking half mile in two of the 3 participants. The third participant never performed the measurements.

Conclusions: Conclusions are being analyzed by the study team.

Author(s) Disclosures: No Disclosures