Theoretical principles and practical recommendations for physical therapy and rehabilitation of patients with COVID-19

Aim: The aim is to analyze and determine the feasibility and effectiveness of pulmonary rehabilitation and its recommended strategies in patients with COVID-19, based on the current literature. Materials and Methods: The materials for the study were based on published information sources on the organization, planning and implementation of therapy and rehabilitation measures for patients with COVID-19 and post-COVID convalescents. We used the methods of system analysis, structural and logical analysis, biblio-semantic and information-analytical methods in the study. Conclusions: Rehabilitation of patients with COVID-19 should take into account the existing pathological changes in organs and systems, the severity of which is determined by the characteristics of the disease; iatrogenic lesions associated with side effects of drugs and medical procedures; the impact of comorbidity; psychological characteristics of the patient. In view of this, it is almost impossible to offer a universal rehabilitation scheme. Therefore, we propose the most individual syndromic and pathogenetic approach, which implements the maximum effectiveness of each rehabilitation technique, depending on the patient’s set of pathological changes, severity and stage of COVID-19 to accelerate recovery, improvement of physical fitness, psychological state, adherence to health-saving behavior.