Early Rehabilitation in COVID-19 - Best Practice Recommendations for the Early Rehabilitation of COVID-19 Patients

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic poses new challenges to physical medicine, physiotherapy, and acute care rehabilitation in rehabilitation clinics as well as in hospitals. We have to assume that COVID-19 patients may need early mobilization and acute care rehabilitation, despite of a possible scarcity of suitable facilities or services. It is the aim of this article to provide conceptual suggestions for the early rehabilitation of COVID-19, combining the existing experience in the acute care rehabilitation of patients with respiratory infections with the currently available sources and experience. These recommendations comprise a checklist of logistical and organisational preparations, aspects of infectivity and personal protective equipment, adjustment of the patients' surroundings, interprofessional team work and co-therapy, respiratory therapy, mobilisation, activating care, ADL training, training intensity, and psychosocial management.