SPECIAL ARTICLE   Open access

European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine 2023 December;59(6):789-99

DOI: 10.23736/S1973-9087.23.08315-6

Copyright © 2023 THE AUTHORS

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language: English

Evidence-based position paper on physical and rehabilitation medicine professional practice for persons with COVID-19, including post COVID-19 condition: the European PRM position (UEMS PRM Section)

Maria G. CERAVOLO ¹, Fahim ANWAR ², Elisa ANDRENELLI ¹ ✉, Cynthia UDENSI ², Jawaria QURESHI ³, Manoj SIVAN ⁴, Carlotte KIEKENS ⁵, Mauro ZAMPOLINI ⁶

¹ Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Politecnica delle Marche University, Ancona, Italy; ² Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK; ³ Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK; ⁴ Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, Leeds General Infirmary, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK; ⁵ IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milan, Italy; ⁶ Department of Rehabilitation, Hospital of Foligno, USL Umbria2, Perugia, Italy

Although multiple factors still pose challenges to inpatient/outpatient rehabilitation for survivors of COVID-19, rehabilitation plays a key role for this patient population. This study aimed to improve Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) physician’s professional practice for persons with COVID-19-related functioning limitations, to promote functional recovery and reduce activity limitations and/or participation restrictions. A systematic review of the scientific literature was performed from December 2019 to August 2022, followed by production of recommendations through 5 Delphi rounds, by consensus among the delegates of all European countries represented in the Union of European Medical Specialists PRM Section. The systematic literature review is reported together with thirty-two recommendations resulting from the Delphi procedure. The PRM physician’s role for persons with COVID-19-related limitations of functioning is to develop, foster, and monitor the implementation of an individual rehabilitation project tailored to the patient’s age, previous medical and functional status, current comorbidities and complications, activity limitations and participation restrictions and personal and environmental factors. This is done by applying the concept of a multi-specialty integrated service model with multi-professional/interdisciplinary teams, providing care at all stages of COVID-19 illness. This evidence-based position paper represents the official position of the European Union through the UEMS PRM Section.

KEY WORDS: COVID-19; Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus; Post-Acute COVID-19 syndrome; Physical and rehabilitation medicine; Consensus development conference