IMPACT OF A WATER-BASED EXERCISE INTERVENTION ON FATIGUE AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN POST-COVID-19 PATIENTS

Recovery from COVID-19 can involve long-lasting symptoms such as fatigue and reduced quality of life. Water-based exercise programs may be appropriate for improving these outcomes, but their effectiveness has not been explored in post-COVID-19 patients. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of an 8-week water-based exercise program on fatigue levels and quality of life in post-COVID-19 patients. A total of 21 (15 females, 6 males) post-COVID-19 patients completed water-based exercises twice weekly for eight weeks. Fatigue was assessed via the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20), and quality of life was measured via the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire. Changes were analyzed pre- and post-intervention using matched-pairs Wilcoxon test and factorial analysis of variance. Fatigue levels showed minimal changes overall, as they were low (MFI total score of 53.43±10.54 pre-intervention). Most participants had good quality of life scores, with no issues in self-care or daily activity. However, overall health status remained unchanged, possibly due to participants’ good pre-intervention health (score of 77.06±17.59 pre-intervention). Water-based exercise programs can help maintain quality of life and fatigue levels in post-COVID-19 patients. These findings highlight their role as safe, inclusive, and supportive rehabilitation options, especially for individuals recovering from mild to moderate COVID-19. Future studies should explore longer interventions and more serious conditions to further explore the benefits of water-based exercises.