The effects of 8 weeks of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise with muscle relaxation on quality of life and sleep quality in patients improved by COVID-19
1MSc in Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran
2Assistant Professor, Payam Noor University, South Tehran Branch, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3Assistant Professor, Islamic Azad University, Sepidan Branch, Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Fars, Iran
چکیده
Introduction: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), as a viral disease, has highlighted the need for exercise due to its immunological and physiological effects on health. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of 8 weeks of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise with muscle relaxation on quality of life and sleep quality in patients improved by Covid-19.
Method: The present study was a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest. This study was carried out with 30 COVID‐19 patients that have recovered from COVID-19 in Isfahan (randomly 15 in the experimental group and 15 in the control group). The data were collected using a WHOQOL-BREF Quality of Life Scale-abbreviated form and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index before and after 8 weeks. The aerobic exercise (walking, 30 min, 50-70% maximal heart rate, perceived exertion ratings between 12 to 13) and muscle relaxation exercises (10 min) were performed 5 times a week for 8 weeks with the researcher's supervision. Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance with using spss24 software at the significance level of p <0.05.
Results: Statistically significant differences were found between the experimental and control groups' mean posttest scores on the quality of life (F = 20.53, P <0.001) and sleep quality (F = 9.90, P <0.05) in patients improved by COVID-19.
Conclusion: Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise with muscle relaxation positively affects the quality of life and quality of sleep-in patients improved by COVID-19. It seems that this type of exercise with muscle relaxation can be used in the treatment continuation in these groups.
