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Original Article

Impact of Sensory Re-education Paradigm on Quality of Life, Tactile Sensation, and Proprioceptive Acuity in Patients with Post-COVID-19 Polyneuropathy: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Hossam M. Alsaid1, Younes A. Khadour1, Hoda M. Zakaria1, Ebtesam M. Fahmy2, Fater A. Khadour3,4, Rehab S. Mamoon5, Azza S.A. Khalil6, Walaa M. Ragab7, Ashraf A. Darwesh1, Mohamed G. Ali5
1.
Department of Physical Therapy for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
2.
Department of Neurology, Kasr Al-Aini, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt
3.
Department of Rehabilitation, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
4.
Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Al Baath University, Homs, Syria
5.
Department of Physical Therapy for Women’s Health, Faculty of Physical Therapy, South Valley (Qena) University, Qena, Egypt
6.
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Saudi Arabia
7.
Department of Physical Therapy, College of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences, Taibah University, Saudi Arabia
Abstract
Objectives: This study evaluated the effect of sensory re-education on quality of life and sensation in patients with post-COVID-19 polyneuropathy. Methods: Forty patients with post-COVID-19 polyneuropathy were randomly assigned to a study group (Group A) or a control group (Group B), each with 20 participants. Group A received a sensory re-education protocol plus the traditional physiotherapy, including proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) and strengthening exercises for wrist extensors, hand grip, and thumb opposition. Group B received the traditional physiotherapy alone. Both groups were treated for one hour, three times weekly, for six weeks. Quality of life was assessed using the Arabic WHOQOL-BREF. Tactile sensation was assessed using the Semmes-Weinstein Monofilament (SWM) test, and proprioception via the laser-pointer angle reproduction test (LP-ART). Assessments were performed pre- and post-intervention. Results: Both groups showed significant pre- to post-treatment improvements in quality of life, proprioception, and tactile sensation (p≤0.05). Group A demonstrated significantly greater gains in quality of life and proprioception compared to Group B (p≤0.05), but no statistically significant difference between groups in tactile sensation (p>0.05). Conclusion: Sensory re-education, when integrated into traditional physiotherapy, significantly improves quality of life and proprioception in post-COVID-19 polyneuropathy but does not significantly affect tactile sensation. These findings support incorporating sensory re-education into rehabilitation protocols to enhance functional outcomes in this population. ClinicalTrials.gov ID:NCT05911113.
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