Del Corral Núñez-Flores, TamaraFabero Garrido, RaúlPlaza Manzano, GustavoIzquierdo García, JuanLópez Sáez, MireyaGarcía García, RocíoLópez De Uralde Villanueva, Ibai Julio2026-02-192026-02-192025-02Del Corral T, Fabero-Garrido R, Plaza-Manzano G, Izquierdo-García J, López-Sáez M, García-García R, López-de-Uralde-Villanueva I. Effect of respiratory rehabilitation on quality of life in individuals with post-COVID-19 symptoms: A randomised controlled trial. Ann Phys Rehabil Med. 2025 Feb;68(1):101920. doi: 10.1016/j.rehab.2024.101920. Epub 2025 Jan 11. PMID: 39798250.1877-065710.1016/j.rehab.2024.101920https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/132727APC financiada por la UCM: para los acuerdos transformativos de la CRUEBackground Inspiratory and expiratory muscle training (RMT) has been shown to have beneficial effects in individuals with long-term post-COVID-19 symptoms. Objective To assess the effects of adding RMT to an aerobic exercise (AE) training program for health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and exercise tolerance in individuals with long-term post-COVID-19 symptoms, and to evaluate the effects on physical and lung function, and psychological status. Methods 64 individuals with long-term post-COVID-19 symptoms of fatigue and dyspnoea were randomly assigned to AE+RMT or AE+RMTsham groups for an 8-wk intervention (AE: 50min/day, 2 times/wk; RMT: 40min/day, 3 times/wk). Primary outcomes were HRQoL (EuroQol-5D questionnaire) and exercise tolerance (cardiopulmonary exercise test). Secondary outcomes were physical function: respiratory muscle function (inspiratory/expiratory muscle strength and inspiratory muscle endurance), lower and upper limb strength (1-min Sit-to-Stand and handgrip force); lung function: spirometry testing and lung diffusing capacity; and psychological status (anxiety/depressive levels). Results Postintervention, there were no statistically significant improvements in HRQoL or exercise tolerance in the AE+RMT compared with the AE+RMTsham group. In the AE+RMT group, large improvements in respiratory muscle function (d = 0.7 to 1.3) and low-moderate improvements in peak expiratory flow (d = 0.4) occurred compared with the AE+RMTsham group. Lung function outcomes, lower and upper limb strength and psychological status did not increase more in the AE+RMT group than in the AE+RMTsham group. Conclusion For individuals with long-term post-COVID-19 symptoms, combining RMT with an AE training program resulted in improvements in respiratory muscle strength, inspiratory muscle endurance and peak expiratory flow; however, the differences between groups were not statistically significant for HRQoL, exercise tolerance, psychological distress, and lung diffusing capacity. Database registration United States Clinical Trials Registry (NCT05597774)engAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internationalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/journal article1877-0665https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rehab.2024.101920https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877065724001039?via%3Dihubopen access615.8Aerobic exerciseExercise toleranceLong-termpost-covid-19 symptomsMaximal respirator ypressuresQuality of lifeRespiratory muscletrainingFisioterapia (Enfermería, Fisioterapia y Podología)3299 Otras Especialidades Médicas