Pulmonary Rehabilitation in the Post-COVID-19 Era: A Comprehensive Review

Healthcare systems around the globe have suffered immensely due to COVID-19, with Long COVID developing into a condition defined by individuals who experience ongoing symptoms long after they recover from the initial viral infection. The most common respiratory complications related to Long COVID include impaired lung function, chronic shortness of breath, and decreased exercise capacity. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is an essential program for wellbeing and lung function among patients with chronic respiratory disease. This long-term respiratory sequela can be alleviated by the implementation of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) which has shown to be one of the most efficacious strategies in these patients demonstrating restoration of pulmonary function, decrease of dyspnea and improvement of physical capacity. The paper further discusses the role of PR in patients recovering from COVID-19 as an adjunct therapy to address long-term sequelae of viral pneumonia. Moreover, the increasing use of telemedicine has been a game changer in expanding access to PR, particularly for patients who are unable to participate in face-to-face rehabilitation visits. Not only has telemedicine improved patient participation in PR programs, but it has also allowed for improved long-term health, as the service can reach more people. Therefore, it is decisive to highlight that PR continues to be a fundamental pillar in the rehabilitation of post-Covid patients, improving their health indicators and their daily life. Ultimately, the growth of telemedicine should further expand and improve the reach and utility of PR over the longer term.