Efficacy of Nordic Walking in the Rehabilitation of Post-COVID-19 Syndrome Patients: An Original Article

Abstract

Introduction

Analysis indicates that a large number of COVID-19 survivors persist with reduced diffusion capacity and worsened perceptions of their physical and mental health even after six weeks of discharge from long-term hospitalization and isolation. Nordic walking (NW) is a unique method that involves an appropriate walking technique, posture, and the use of poles, which engages both the lower and upper body muscles, accounting for approximately 90% of the body's total muscle effort. NW increases maximum oxygen uptake, exercise capacity, resting heart rate, blood pressure, and quality of life in individuals across various scenarios.

Methods

70 Post COVID-19 (PC-19) patients were divided into two groups using simple random sampling, recruited from the COVID center of Shalinitai Meghe Superspeciality Hospital, Sawangi (M), Wardha. Based on the criteria determining inclusion and exclusion, the age of the patients ranged from 30-60 years. Group A was given conventional aerobic training as walking, and Group B was given NW training for 20-60 minutes each, alternate days a week for 4 weeks. Pre and post-intervention values were noted for the Incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT), World Health Organization Quality of Life, Short Form (WHOQOL-BREF), and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21). The statistical analysis of the results was done after the data was collected.

Results

Group B has improved better in Incremental shuttle walk distance (ISWD), physical function domain, and psychological domain of WHOQOL-BREF than Group A.

Conclusion

The study has shown that NW can be an advantageous rehabilitation regime in PC-19 patients to enhance walking endurance, overall quality of life, and reduce anxiety, depression, and stress.