O.V. Melnik1, A.V. Alpatov2, M.S. Ashapkina3

1–3 Ryazan State Radio Engineering University named after V.F. Utkin (Ryazan, Russia)

2,3 LLC "BIOTECHPRODAKTS" (Ryazan, Russia)

Physical rehabilitation using smartphone applications is an available method to support and maintain physical activity during the late recovery period. Usage of a smartphone allows patients achieving the correct execution of exercises and following the required schedule of daily exercises. Within development of the project “NEFITNES”, our team has developed and successfully implemented several smartphone applications contained complexes of exercises recommended for pathologies of the knee joint and spine. The algorithm implemented in the developed software uses sensors of smartphone motions to control qualitative and quantitative characteristics of executed exercises [1].

Coronavirus pandemic is a new challenge for rehabilitation physicians. It is a well-known fact that consequences of the previous decease are not less dangerous for patients than the infection itself [2]. Spectrum of post-Covid complications is too wide and affects almost all systems of the body (respiratory, nervous, musculoskeletal and other systems). The most frequent complaint after COVID-19 is respiration deterioration - dyspnea, heavy breathing, cough, as well as decrease of physical activity due to easy fatiguability and weaknesses. Rehabilitation of such conditions is an actual task today. One of the most available methods for recovery after COVID-19 is a combination of complexes with simple physical and respiratory exercises which activate a diaphragm, improve pulmonary ventilation, support an enough level of oxygen in the blood and also increase a muscle tone of the whole body [3-4]. However, the correct respiration often requires stable training. In the perfect case, external control of the pulse rate and respiration depth are necessary in order not to overload the patient’s weak body.

New challenges require improvement of tools for the rehabilitation online control. The purpose of the paper is a development of the smartphone application controlling physical exercises for the post-Covid rehabilitation combined with measurement of the pulse rate and control of the respiration depth in real time without usage of additionally connected equipment.

Within development of the project “NEFITNES”, our team has developed and successfully implemented several smartphone applications contained complexes of exercises recommended for pathologies of the knee joint and spine. The algorithm implemented in the developed software uses sensors of smartphone motions to control qualitative and quantitative characteristics of executed exercises. A concept of online physical rehabilitation with feedback in real time that allows controlling the direction and amplitude of a motion during execution of an exercise and to use a pulse as an indicator of the physical load level has been developed and patented as a part of authors’ work.

The fully-functional prototype has been developed based on the current application “Nefitnes” for testing. The prototype includes a complex of physical training for patients with light form of the Covid infection for the late period. Such complex contains respiratory and physical exercises. Prototype testing has been fulfilled on the basis of the State-Financed Institution "Clinical and Research Institute of Emergency Pediatric Surgery and Trauma" of Healthcare Department (CRIEPST) within the project “Digital rehabilitation”. At present, the Institution is developing a complex of methods for rehabilitation of children with COVID-19. Corresponding methodological recommendations how to execute exercises in hospitals and at home have been published [10].

Melnik O.V., Alpatov A.V., Ashapkina M.S. Development of the smartphone application for post-covid physical rehabilitation to control motor activity, cardiac rhythm and respiration depth. Biomedicine Radioengineering. 2022. V. 25. № 4. Р. 46-53. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18127/j15604136-202204-06 (In Russian)

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