Use of wearables to measure the effects of long COVID on activities of daily living and their relationship to perceived exertion, occupational performance, and quality of life

IntroductionThis study introduces a novel approach to understanding the impact of long COVID symptoms on daily life by integrating wearable devices to assess their influence on physical and mental quality of life, as well as perceived performance and satisfaction in daily activities.MethodsBy levera...

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Main Authors: Lucía Hernández-Hernández, Paula Obeso-Benítez, Sergio Serrada-Tejeda, Patricia Sánchez-Herrera-Baeza, Ma Pilar Rodríguez-Pérez, Marta Pérez-de-Heredia-Torres, Rosa María Martínez-Piédrola, Jorge Martín-Hernández
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-02-01
Series:Frontiers in Public Health
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1519204/full
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author Lucía Hernández-Hernández
Paula Obeso-Benítez
Sergio Serrada-Tejeda
Patricia Sánchez-Herrera-Baeza
Ma Pilar Rodríguez-Pérez
Marta Pérez-de-Heredia-Torres
Rosa María Martínez-Piédrola
Jorge Martín-Hernández
author_facet Lucía Hernández-Hernández
Paula Obeso-Benítez
Sergio Serrada-Tejeda
Patricia Sánchez-Herrera-Baeza
Ma Pilar Rodríguez-Pérez
Marta Pérez-de-Heredia-Torres
Rosa María Martínez-Piédrola
Jorge Martín-Hernández
author_sort Lucía Hernández-Hernández
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionThis study introduces a novel approach to understanding the impact of long COVID symptoms on daily life by integrating wearable devices to assess their influence on physical and mental quality of life, as well as perceived performance and satisfaction in daily activities.MethodsBy leveraging technology such as accelerometers and pulse oximeters alongside assessment tools like the SF-12 Health Survey, the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, and the Borg Scale, this research provides a comprehensive analysis that advances the field of occupational therapy.ResultsAn analytical observational study with 10 participants with long COVID and 10 healthy controls revealed that individuals with long COVID took significantly longer to complete tasks such as setting the table, sweeping, and climbing stairs, compared to the control group. Participants with long COVID also reported higher perceived exertion during all activities, as well as significantly worse physical health-related quality of life and lower satisfaction and performance in daily activities. Notably, perceived exertion correlated with reduced physical quality of life and diminished satisfaction and accomplishment in occupational tasks.DiscussionThese findings emphasize the critical need for occupational therapy interventions to reduce perceived exertion, which could improve physical quality of life and enhance performance and satisfaction in daily activities for individuals with long COVID.
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publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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spelling doaj-art-a476036f1a1d4bc78b1c182536b09fe92025-08-20T03:12:59ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-02-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.15192041519204Use of wearables to measure the effects of long COVID on activities of daily living and their relationship to perceived exertion, occupational performance, and quality of lifeLucía Hernández-Hernández0Paula Obeso-Benítez1Sergio Serrada-Tejeda2Patricia Sánchez-Herrera-Baeza3Ma Pilar Rodríguez-Pérez4Marta Pérez-de-Heredia-Torres5Rosa María Martínez-Piédrola6Jorge Martín-Hernández7Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Research Group in Evaluation and Assessment of Capacity, Functionality and Disability (TO+IDI), Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, SpainDepartment of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Research Group in Evaluation and Assessment of Capacity, Functionality and Disability (TO+IDI), Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, SpainDepartment of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Research Group in Evaluation and Assessment of Capacity, Functionality and Disability (TO+IDI), Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, SpainDepartment of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Research Group in Evaluation and Assessment of Capacity, Functionality and Disability (TO+IDI), Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, SpainDepartment of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Research Group in Evaluation and Assessment of Capacity, Functionality and Disability (TO+IDI), Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, SpainDepartment of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Research Group in Evaluation and Assessment of Capacity, Functionality and Disability (TO+IDI), Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, SpainDepartment of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Research Group in Evaluation and Assessment of Capacity, Functionality and Disability (TO+IDI), Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, SpainFisioterapia Amaia Rodríguez, Gipuzkoa, SpainIntroductionThis study introduces a novel approach to understanding the impact of long COVID symptoms on daily life by integrating wearable devices to assess their influence on physical and mental quality of life, as well as perceived performance and satisfaction in daily activities.MethodsBy leveraging technology such as accelerometers and pulse oximeters alongside assessment tools like the SF-12 Health Survey, the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, and the Borg Scale, this research provides a comprehensive analysis that advances the field of occupational therapy.ResultsAn analytical observational study with 10 participants with long COVID and 10 healthy controls revealed that individuals with long COVID took significantly longer to complete tasks such as setting the table, sweeping, and climbing stairs, compared to the control group. Participants with long COVID also reported higher perceived exertion during all activities, as well as significantly worse physical health-related quality of life and lower satisfaction and performance in daily activities. Notably, perceived exertion correlated with reduced physical quality of life and diminished satisfaction and accomplishment in occupational tasks.DiscussionThese findings emphasize the critical need for occupational therapy interventions to reduce perceived exertion, which could improve physical quality of life and enhance performance and satisfaction in daily activities for individuals with long COVID.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1519204/fulllong COVIDactivities of daily livingperceived exertionoccupational performancequality of lifewearables, occupational therapy
spellingShingle Lucía Hernández-Hernández
Paula Obeso-Benítez
Sergio Serrada-Tejeda
Patricia Sánchez-Herrera-Baeza
Ma Pilar Rodríguez-Pérez
Marta Pérez-de-Heredia-Torres
Rosa María Martínez-Piédrola
Jorge Martín-Hernández
Use of wearables to measure the effects of long COVID on activities of daily living and their relationship to perceived exertion, occupational performance, and quality of life
Frontiers in Public Health
long COVID
activities of daily living
perceived exertion
occupational performance
quality of life
wearables, occupational therapy
title Use of wearables to measure the effects of long COVID on activities of daily living and their relationship to perceived exertion, occupational performance, and quality of life
title_full Use of wearables to measure the effects of long COVID on activities of daily living and their relationship to perceived exertion, occupational performance, and quality of life
title_fullStr Use of wearables to measure the effects of long COVID on activities of daily living and their relationship to perceived exertion, occupational performance, and quality of life
title_full_unstemmed Use of wearables to measure the effects of long COVID on activities of daily living and their relationship to perceived exertion, occupational performance, and quality of life
title_short Use of wearables to measure the effects of long COVID on activities of daily living and their relationship to perceived exertion, occupational performance, and quality of life
title_sort use of wearables to measure the effects of long covid on activities of daily living and their relationship to perceived exertion occupational performance and quality of life
topic long COVID
activities of daily living
perceived exertion
occupational performance
quality of life
wearables, occupational therapy
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1519204/full
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