Pulmonary Function in Post-COVID-19 Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Concurrent and Breathing Exercise

Objectives: While most Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) patients recover without long-term effects, some experience post-COVID-19 syndromes causing persistent physical impairments, including reduced pulmonary function. This study aims to assess the effects of combined concurrent and breathing exercises on pulmonary function in women with post-COVID-19 syndromes. Methods: This randomized controlled trial included 60 women with post-COVID-19 symptoms, assigned to control or an 8-week, thrice-weekly, 50-minute exercises at 65-75% maximum heart rate. Pulmonary functions and oxygens saturation were measured using COSMED Pony spirometer before and after the program. Split-plot Repeated Measures ANOVA was used to calculate the time, treatment, and interaction effects, followed by effect size calculations with the Cohens'd. Results: The study revealed significant time effects for all measures, except for tidal volume. Treatment effects favored the exercise group in Force Vital Capacity (FVC), Force Expiratory Ventilation 1 second (FEV1) and Maximum Respiratory Frequency (MRf). Interaction effects were demonstrated in FVC and Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF), indicating that improvements only occurred in the treatment group. Effect size calculation indicated significant improvements in all measures, excluding FEV1/FVC% and tidal volume in the exercise group, while only in FVC and MVV in the control group. Conclusion: This study highlights the effectiveness of the exercise in improving post-COVID-19 pulmonary function.