200 Section - Asynchronous Telerehabilitation in Post-COVID Syndrome and Its Impact on the 6-Minute Walk Test: A Prospective Study

To evaluate adherence and the functional effects of a 9-week asynchronous telerehabilitation program on the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) in adults recovering from mild-to-moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection.



Design: A descriptive, longitudinal, prospective study was conducted in adults recruited from the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Service of UMFRS XXI (IMSS). Eligible participants were hemodynamically stable and had access to mobile technology. The intervention consisted of breathing, aerobic, and strengthening exercises delivered asynchronously via WhatsApp®. The 6MWT was administered before and after the program. Descriptive statistics and paired comparisons were performed using SPSS 21®. Ethical approval was granted by the institutional IRB.

Results: Forty-two participants were enrolled; 61% presented at least one comorbidity (hypertension 34%, type II diabetes mellitus 34%). At baseline, 35% were unable to complete the 6MWT, and none achieved predicted distances. Five participants withdrew before the final evaluation. Post-intervention, the mean distance walked increased from 360.41 m to 496.89 m (mean change: +134.48 m; range 60–230 m; p = 0.0001). Improvements were also noted in Borg dyspnea (6→3, p = 0.0001), final heart rate (100→94 bpm, p = 0.0001), and oxygen saturation (89.49%→91.35%, p = 0.0001). Only 13.5% were unable to complete the second 6MWT. Adherence to the asynchronous program was high.

Conclusion: Asynchronous telerehabilitation significantly improved functional capacity and physiological response during the 6MWT in patients with post-COVID syndrome. These findings support its feasibility as a therapeutic option, particularly in resource-limited settings. Larger controlled trials are recommended to strengthen evidence within Latin American populations.