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. 2020 Aug;54(16):949-959.
doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2020-102596. Epub 2020 May 31.

The Stanford Hall consensus statement for post-COVID-19 rehabilitation

Robert M Barker-Davies  1   2 , Oliver O'Sullivan  3   4 , Kahawalage Pumi Prathima Senaratne  5   6 , Polly Baker  1   7 , Mark Cranley  5 , Shreshth Dharm-Datta  5 , Henrietta Ellis  5 , Duncan Goodall  5   8 , Michael Gough  5 , Sarah Lewis  5 , Jonathan Norman  5 , Theodora Papadopoulou  5   9 , David Roscoe  2   5 , Daniel Sherwood  5 , Philippa Turner  5   10 , Tammy Walker  5 , Alan Mistlin  5 , Rhodri Phillip  5 , Alastair M Nicol  5   11 , Alexander N Bennett  1   12 , Sardar Bahadur  5
Affiliations

The Stanford Hall consensus statement for post-COVID-19 rehabilitation

Robert M Barker-Davies et al. Br J Sports Med. 2020 Aug.

Abstract

The highly infectious and pathogenic novel coronavirus (CoV), severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV-2, has emerged causing a global pandemic. Although COVID-19 predominantly affects the respiratory system, evidence indicates a multisystem disease which is frequently severe and often results in death. Long-term sequelae of COVID-19 are unknown, but evidence from previous CoV outbreaks demonstrates impaired pulmonary and physical function, reduced quality of life and emotional distress. Many COVID-19 survivors who require critical care may develop psychological, physical and cognitive impairments. There is a clear need for guidance on the rehabilitation of COVID-19 survivors. This consensus statement was developed by an expert panel in the fields of rehabilitation, sport and exercise medicine (SEM), rheumatology, psychiatry, general practice, psychology and specialist pain, working at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, Stanford Hall, UK. Seven teams appraised evidence for the following domains relating to COVID-19 rehabilitation requirements: pulmonary, cardiac, SEM, psychological, musculoskeletal, neurorehabilitation and general medical. A chair combined recommendations generated within teams. A writing committee prepared the consensus statement in accordance with the appraisal of guidelines research and evaluation criteria, grading all recommendations with levels of evidence. Authors scored their level of agreement with each recommendation on a scale of 0-10. Substantial agreement (range 7.5-10) was reached for 36 recommendations following a chaired agreement meeting that was attended by all authors. This consensus statement provides an overarching framework assimilating evidence and likely requirements of multidisciplinary rehabilitation post COVID-19 illness, for a target population of active individuals, including military personnel and athletes.

Keywords: consensus; recovery; rehabilitation; sports and exercise medicine; virus.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

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