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Abstract

Decreased arterial blood oxygen saturation is one of the most common complications of COVID-19. Considering the major respiratory problems of infected individuals and the role of respiratory physiotherapy in reducing respiratory complications, this study aimed to determine the effect of chest expansion exercises on arterial blood oxygen saturation in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. This study is a randomized, single-blind clinical trial study conducted on 42 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 at Bu Ali Hospital in Zahedan. Patients were randomly assigned to two intervention groups (n=21) and control groups (n=21). The control group was treated with routine breathing exercises (diaphragmatic breathing and pursed lip breathing). In the intervention group, patients received chest expansion exercises in addition to routine breathing exercises. Treatment for both groups was performed for 7 days (7 times a week) and 3 sessions each day (morning-noon-evening) and each exercise was performed 10 times. Then, the outcomes were recorded once before the start of the exercises, once in the fourth session and once after the end of the 7 treatment sessions, that is, in the eighth session. Arterial blood oxygen saturation (SPO2) was measured and recorded by a finger pulse oximeter. The results showed that in the intervention group, the average arterial blood oxygen saturation after treatment was statistically significantly different from before treatment (P<0.05). In the control group, the average arterial blood oxygen saturation after treatment was not statistically significantly different from before treatment (P>0.05). The results also indicated that the effect of time on the arterial oxygen saturation of patients was significant (P<0.05), meaning that the average SPO2 between the intervention and control groups changed significantly over time.

Keywords: COVID-19, Chest expansion exercises, Arterial oxygen saturation