Physical therapist Primary care clinician Sutter Health Novato California Novato, California, United States
Objective(s): During the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of social distancing measures has reduced physical activity in people due to home quarantine and lockdowns. COVID-19 disease can affect the functional capacity and occupational health of diabetic patients. This fact urges the need for physical therapy during the active and recovery phase of COVID-19 disease..
Data Sources: Different articles were retrieved from PubMed and a literature review was conducted.
Study Selection: Articles were retrieved from PubMed (the United States National Library of Medicine) in March 2022 using the Keywords: Physical therapy, COVID-19, diabetes, comorbidities, acute disease, recovery phase, and rehabilitation in English. The terms were combined using the Boolean operator “AND” to find literature that comprised all related keywords. The inclusion criteria included full-text availability; English language; having “Acute and Recovery phase of COVID-19”, “COVID-19 and physical therapy,” and “COVID-19 and Diabetes” as the chief research topic.
Data Extraction: The aims of this review article were achieved through a literature review. This review involved the following steps: • Topic selection • Research question defined • Methodological design • Inclusion and exclusion criteria • Literature collection and selection • Evaluation of included studies • Interpretation of the results
Data Synthesis: In this review paper, we have briefly seen the literature available about the effects of diabetes on the COVID-19 disease course and prognosis, both during active and recovery phases, and the efficacy of physical therapy on such patients. COVID-19 has affected a significant proportion of the population including healthy and immunocompromised individuals. Physical therapy has profound benefits during the active and recovery phase of the COVID-19 infection in mild to severe and critical forms of the disease.
Conclusions: In this review paper, we have briefly seen the literature available about the effects of diabetes on the COVID-19 disease course and prognosis, both during active and recovery phases, and the efficacy of physical therapy on such patients. COVID-19 has affected a significant proportion of the population including healthy and immunocompromised individuals.
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