Sussex study investigates how exercise might improve the recovery of coronavirus patients

Research being carried out by universities and hospitals in Sussex will look at how physical exercise might aid the long-term recovery of patients who have been critically ill with coronavirus.
Students working with cardiac rehab patientsStudents working with cardiac rehab patients
Students working with cardiac rehab patients

Approximately 100 patients who have successfully received care for COVID-19 in Intensive Care have been selected for the study.

The research is ultimately aiming to look at whether critically ill patients who have been on a ventilator can benefit from remote prescribed exercise following their discharge from hospital.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Each consenting patient will have their physical health monitored by receiving follow-up appointments with doctors, physiotherapists and nurses three months after being discharged from hospital, six months and again one year after.

Dr Alan RichardsonDr Alan Richardson
Dr Alan Richardson

They will also be given remote exercise rehabilitation plans and advice.

A fitness watch will track their physical activities to see how their body is responding having previously contracted the virus.

The University of Brighton’s Dr Alan Richardson is working on the study, in conjunction with University of Brighton and Brighton and Sussex Medical School alumnus Dr Todd Leckie and Intensive Care consultant Dr Luke Hodgson, who both work for the Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust at Worthing Hospital.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Dr Richardson, Principal Lecturer in the School of Sport and Service Management, said: “It’s basically a form of socially distanced exercise rehabilitation.

“We’re trying to look at how they medically get on one-year after Covid-19 and whether they do better by being active, adhering to remote physiotherapy and motivational support.

“We know that those who have had serious respiratory issues caused by coronavirus, who have been on a ventilator, will have their ability to exercise severely affected.

“We are trying to improve their recovery by encouraging progressive physical exercise, albeit at a much lighter level than before”.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Patients and their families, as well as the health professionals involved in their care, will also be interviewed over the course of a year.

A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton:

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news, I am asking you to please purchase a copy of our newspapers.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspapers.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Stay safe, and best wishes.

Related topics: