COVID-19: Rehabilitation Needs, Therapeutic Development, and Impact on the Health System

Dear Colleagues,

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic started at the end of 2019, evolving with growing numbers since then. A large number of COVID-19 patients need rehabilitation (inpatient, outpatient, or home-based) to reduce dyspnea and to improve muscle function, physical performance, and independence of activities of daily living. In this scenario, an early rehabilitation treatment is crucial immediately after discharge from intensive care units, with COVID-19 patients stabilized in post-acute rehabilitation units.

COVID-19 has also had a negative impact on health systems around the world, causing deficiencies in meeting patient needs. Thus, an adequate remodeling of hospitals and territorial services is mandatory, such as the potential role that novel therapeutic developments such as telerehabilitation might play for COVID-19 patients.

Furthermore, the COVID-19 has pandemic generated additional challenges and significant disruptions across work environments and physical medicine and rehabilitation (PRM) professionals. In recent years, a notable number of short- and long-term effects related to health have been identified, with a considerable economic burden on healthcare systems.

Lastly, monitoring the mental health of PRM professionals has become a crucial point for researchers, organizations, and governments; indeed, several hospitals have begun to promote positive mental wellbeing through increased research on mental health and burnout in the workplace during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Therefore, the aim of this Special Issue is to provide findings on i) the role of rehabilitation in COVID-19 patients; ii) new therapeutic development, including telerehabilitation; and iii) the impact of COVID-19 on the economic burden of healthcare and psychological alterations for PRM professionals.

Prof. Dr. Alessandro de Sire
Prof. Dr. Antonio Ammendolia
Guest Editors

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