Abstract
Post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS) is a collection of persistent and debilitating symptoms lasting weeks to months after acute COVID-19 infection, with fatigue most commonly reported. There is controversy surrounding the role of exercise programs for this condition, due to concerns over the potential to worsen fatigue. We developed a novel physical therapy program known as Autonomic Conditioning Therapy (ACT) for PACS, and report on the preliminary patient-reported outcome (PRO) data from individuals who completed ACT for PACS, compared with those who did not. Seventy-eight (55 [71%] female, median [range] age 43 [12 to 78]) met the inclusion criteria and consented to have their data included in the analyses. A total of 31 (40%) individuals completed ACT for PACS. There was within-group improvement in fatigue in individuals who completed ACT for PACS (mean difference [95% CI] -14 [-27 to -1], p = 0.03), as well as greater between-group impression of change measured on the Patient Global Impression of Change scale (ACT for PACS median [range] 5 [1 to 7], no ACT for PACS 4 [1 to 7], p < 0.01). ACT for PACS is a novel physical therapy program that can reduce fatigue in individuals with PACS.
Autonomic conditioning therapy reduces fatigue and improves global impression of change in individuals with post-acute COVID-19 syndrome