COVID-19 Research

KEY FINDING: The congress served as a platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and innovation in PRM, highlighting the importance of international cooperation and resilience in adapting to challenges.

KEY FINDING: The telerehabilitation service has the potential to positively impact access to rehabilitation during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly for individuals in rural areas and those on wait lists.

KEY FINDING: The pandemic negatively impacted healthcare utilization, access, and outcomes for individuals with SCI/D, although no studies quantified these changes.

KEY FINDING: Typical COVID-19 symptoms like fever and coughing were not consistently present in all people with SCI who were hospitalized.

KEY FINDING: Participation restrictions decreased over time, indicated by a large effect size (η2 = 0.20) on the Keele Assessment of Participation (KAP).

KEY FINDING: Twelve long COVID symptoms were observed in SCI patients, including fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, memory loss, and respiratory problems.

KEY FINDING: SCI patients experienced significantly lower QOL scores during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to pre-pandemic times, particularly in psychological and social relationships domains.

KEY FINDING: The pandemic had negative impacts on the physical and mental health of patients and carers, increasing frustration, anxiety, and stress due to disrupted treatment and increased care burden.

KEY FINDING: There was a significant 21.4% increase in mortality rates for the SCI cohort during the pandemic.

KEY FINDING: scTS + RT intervention resulted in an average effect size that was twice as large as RT alone.