Investigation of the effects of respiratory muscle training and walking exercises on some blood and respiratory parameters in patients recovered from COVİD-19 lung inflammation

This study aimed to investigate the effects of respiratory muscle training and walking exercises on individuals who had experienced COVID-19 with pneumonia, suffered from dyspnea, and had a decreased quality of life. The research sought to examine the impact of these exercises on participants' blood values, specific respiratory parameters, and sleep quality. The study was designed experimentally. It involved 80 female participants aged between 20 and 45 who had experienced pneumonia due to COVID-19, suffered from dyspnea, and had a diminished quality of life. These participants were divided into four groups: a group performing respiratory muscle training in addition to walking (Solunum+Ұ) n:20, a respiratory muscle training group (Solunum) n:20, a walking exercise group (Yürüyüş) n:20, and a control group (Kontrol) n:20. At the beginning and end of the study, respiratory function tests, maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) tests, 6-minute walk tests (6 DYT), Nottingham Health Profile (NSP), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PUKI), modified Borg scale for dyspnea sensation, and various blood parameter measurements were conducted. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS 22. Statistically significant positive results were observed in all pre- and post-test measurements for the Solunum+Ұ, Solunum, and Yürüyüş groups, and in the 6 DYT measurement for the Control group. In group comparisons, it was found that the Solunum+Ұ group showed a higher percentage of improvement in all measurements except for the measurement values of white (WBC) and red (RBC) blood cell counts in the blood parameter measurement. As a conclusion, it was determined that women who had experienced COVID-19 with dyspnea complaints could significantly enhance measurement parameters taken within the scope of the research through respiratory muscle training and walking exercises. It is believed that this improvement could positively contribute to the individual's quality of life, sleep quality, respiratory function, and dyspnea sensation.