Science and Research

Potential Application of Whole Body Vibration Exercise For Improving The Clinical Conditions of COVID-19 Infected Individuals: A Narrative Review From the World Association of Vibration Exercise Experts (WAVex) Panel

COVID-19 is a highly infectious respiratory disease which leads to several clinical conditions related to the dysfunction of the respiratory system along with other physical and psychological complaints. Severely affected patients are referred to intensive care units (ICUs), limiting their possibilities for physical exercise. Whole body vibration (WBV) exercise is a non-invasive, physical therapy, that has been suggested as part of the procedures involved with pulmonary rehabilitation, even in ICU settings. Therefore, in the current review, the World Association of Vibration Exercise Experts (WAVEX) reviewed the potential of WBV exercise as a useful and safe intervention for the management of infected individuals with COVID-19 by mitigating the inactivity-related declines in physical condition and reducing the time in ICU. Recommendations regarding the reduction of fatigue and the risk of dyspnea, the improvement of the inflammatory and redox status favoring cellular homeostasis and the overall improvement in the quality of life are provided. Finally, practical applications for the use of this paradigm leading to a better prognosis in bed bound and ICU-bound subjects is proposed.

  • Sanudo, B.
  • Seixas, A.
  • Gloeckl, R.
  • Rittweger, J.
  • Rawer, R.
  • Taiar, R.
  • van der Zee, E. A.
  • van Heuvelen, M. J. G.
  • Lacerda, A. C.
  • Sartorio, A.
  • Bemben, M.
  • Cochrane, D.
  • Furness, T.
  • de Sa-Caputo, D.
  • Bernardo-Filho, M.

Keywords

  • Betacoronavirus/*isolation & purification
  • Coronavirus Infections/*physiopathology/virology
  • Exercise
  • Fatigue
  • Humans
  • Intensive Care Units
  • Pandemics
  • *Physical Therapy Modalities
  • Pneumonia, Viral/*physiopathology/virology
  • Quality of Life
  • *Vibration
  • *covid-19
  • *SARS-CoV-2
  • *coronavirus
  • *whole body vibration exercise
Publication details
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17103650
Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health
Number: 10
Work Type: Original
Location: UGMLC
Disease Area: PALI
Partner / Member: UMR
Access-Number: 32455961
See publication on PubMed

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