effect of selected-exercise-rehabilitation on long-term fatigue related to infectious disease: post-covid-19 fatigue

Background :post-acute sequelae of sars-cov-2 (pasc), a complication following sars-cov-2 infection, frequently manifests as persistent fatigue. exercise rehabilitation may offer a strategy to combat pasc. objectives :we aimed to evaluate the impact of an 8-week selected-exercise-rehabilitation (ser) program on fatigue, inflammatory markers, physical function, and mental health in covid-19 survivors. methods :covid-19 survivors with pulmonary damage and experiencing fatigue were recruited from al zahra hospital and randomized into an experimental (ser program; online and in-person delivery) or a control group. assessments were conducted at baseline and after 8 weeks, including: white blood cell count (wbc), c-reactive protein (crp), handgrip strength, two-minute walk test, forced expiratory volume in the first second (fev1)/forced vital capacity (fvc) ratio, chalder fatigue scale, beck depression inventory, and a quality of life questionnaire. results :statistical analysis (spss) revealed significant improvements across all measured variables within the ser group following the intervention (p < 0.001). compared to the control group, participants in the ser group showed significantly greater improvements in inflammatory markers, physical function, fatigue, depression scores, and quality of life at the 8-week follow-up (p < 0.001). conclusions :an 8-week ser program significantly reduced fatigue and inflammation while improving physical function and mental well-being in covid-19 survivors with prior pulmonary damage. these results support the potential use of personalized ser, initiated early post-infection, as a therapeutic approach to manage long-term fatigue following covid-19 and potentially other infectious diseases.