Table 1. Summary of manuscripts published on pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with COVID-19.

Author (s)	Country	Manuscript type	Summary
Liu et al.[17]	China	Experimental study	Quasi-experimental study on pulmonary rehabilitation in elderly COVID-19 survivors, weaned off from mechanical ventilation and discharged from hospitals in China. Participants underwent PR over 6 weeks. Improvement was seen in respiratory function (FEV1/FVC), QoL, level of anxiety, physical function (SF-36). There was no significant change in depression.
Lazzeri et al.[18]	Italy	Perspective	A position paper authored collaboratively by the Italian Association of Respiratory Therapists and Italian Association of Physiotherapists. The aim was to provide guidelines to the rehabilitation team members working in an inpatient facility that could also be effective in managing severe COVID-19 under ICU support
McNeary and Maltser[19]	USA	Emerging issue	A position paper describing CAN report in inpatient rehabilitation facilities, which seems to be effective in COVID-19 cases
Smith et al.[20]	England	Perspective	This article describes the clinical presentation of PICS and provides recommendations for physical examination, outcome measures, plan of care, and intervention strategies. It also stresses the importance of educating patients and family, coordinating community resources, and CBR service. The current challenges for patients developing PICS are also discussed.
Li[21]	China	Expert opinion	The rehabilitation team should be included in COVID-19 management as any other national disaster that happened before.
Mohamed and Alawna[22]	Turkey	Review	Increased aerobic capacity could lead to short-term improvement of immune (an increased function of immune cells and immunoglobulins level) and respiratory system (acting as an antibiotic, antioxidant, and antimycotic, restoring normal lung tissue elasticity and strength) in COVID-19 patients. Aerobic exercise minimizes anxiety and depression.
Polastri et al.[23]	Italy	Editorial	Early rehabilitation for COVID-19 patients with respiratory, physical, and psychological impairments is required. Pulmonary rehabilitation algorithm for chronic lung diseases could be useful in COVID-19 patients. However, COVID-19 specific rehabilitation (inpatient, outpatient, and telerehabilitation) setting is required to develop. Inviting technology and reorganizing health system is required to serve increased patient load.
Zhu et al.[24]	China	Letter to editor (case report based)	After weaning from ventilation, postural change and prone position improves alveolar gas exchange and reduce pulmonary bacterial infection; spontaneous deep breathing maintains lung recruitment; early post ICU mobilization improves respiratory and diaphragmatic muscle strength; psychological intervention and sleep promotion improve anxiety and depression.
Sheehy[25]	Canada	Expert opinion	Major PR should not be at an early stage of lung involvement.
Rivera-Lillo et al.[26] Chile		Letter to editor	COVID-19 survivors with long-term pulmonary sequelae and associated comorbidities are straining on the existing healthcare facilities. Developing a trained multidisciplinary rehabilitation team is a must serve the COVID-19 survivors for improved functionality and QoL.
You et al.[27]	China	Letter to editor (case series based)	COVID-19 survivors are documented to have impaired lung function and GGO on chest CT and X-ray. Pulmonary fibrosis can develop in critically ill patients and is linked to impaired lung function, however, to confirm it, long-term study is required. Long-term follow-up outcomes of lung function in COVID-19 survivors help us developing a guideline specific to the disorder.
Mo et al.[28]	China	Letter to editor	In COVID-19 survivors, impairment of diffusion capacity and restrictive ventilatory defect both are associated with the severi-ty of the disease. Spirometry and diffusion capacity should be measured in routine clinical follow-up in severe cases.
Zha et al.[29]	China	Letter to editor (case report based)	Follow-up of two patients depicted, non-abnormality on both chest radiology and function tests in young COVID-19 case, whereas, the same were eventful in older COVID-19 survivor due to lung fibrosis that could affect patients overall physical abilities
Curci et al.[301	Italy	Cross-sectional study	Based-on oxygen saturation and patients wearing masks - PR could include posture changes (FiO2 >40 and <60%). Bedside, ROM for joints, stretching & pumping exercises for limbs with some exceptions, breathing control, chest-abdomen coordination exercises (promote proper recruitment of diaphragm muscle), clearance techniques; patients without oxygen support devices or wearing nasal cannula (FiO2>21 and <40%) - rehabilitation protocol includes active exercises performed at bedside, balance training in statics and dynamics, program to prevent fall, low-intensity exercises of limb and trunk muscles. Patients able to maintain standing, having adequate muscle strength and respiratory function, walking training could be performed. COVID-19 with FiO2 >21 and <40% further participate in thoracic expansion training, forced inspiration-expiration, incentive spirometer, and bottle Positive Expiratory Pressure utilization.
Estraneo and Ciapetti[311	Italy	Letter to editor	Severe COVID-19 cases develop functional motor deficits impacting weaning from mechanical ventilation, long-term outcomes, and hospital mortality. So, early recognition of neuromuscular impairment and plan for their rehabilitation improve respiratory function and overall clinical outcome.
Brugliera et al.[321	Italy	Perspective	Nutritional management of COVID-19 patients improves clinical outcomes. Nutritional support and the proper rehabilitation including PR improve the likelihood of recovery in COVID-19 patients.
Severin et al.[331	US	Review	Screening of respiratory muscle performance could add value while planning PR in COVID-19 patients with compromised lung function.
Pancera et al.[341	Italy	Case report	Pulmonary rehabilitation in COVID-19 under ventilation due to ARDS including respiratory care, early mobilization, and neuromuscular electrical stimulation started in a rehabilitation center can lead to early weaning from ventilation support, the tracheal cannula removal, and recovering walking capacity followed by increased respiratory muscles strength and function and quadriceps muscle volume in later follow-up.
Tay et al.[351	Singapore	Case report	Robotic therapies prove useful in PR of post-critical care COVID-19 patients as well.
Chen et al.[361	China	Opinion article	Robotic therapies prove useful in PR of post-critical care COVID-19 patients as well.
Antonelli and Donelli[371	Italy	Corre-spondence	Eight-segment traditional Chinese rehabilitation program in association with conventional PR and PNF could improve lung function in COVID-19
Simpson et al.[381	Canada	Analysis and perspective	Existing Spa facilities could be successfully utilized for post-COVID-19 PR.
Bhutani and Robinson[391	Canada	Position statement	This paper highlights that COVID-19 associated critical illness will greatly impact the existing healthcare facilities. There is a need to design strategies to mitigate the strain, both in acute and post-acute phases. Health care professionals working with COVID-19 need to cooperative across disciplines
Bryant et al.[401	USA	Letter to editor (based-on clinical experience)	Veterans are eligible for the Telehealth program through internet connection from their homes using iPADs, smartphones or computers if they: (1) are medically stable and receiving optimal medical management; (2) have no severe cognitive impairments; (3) able to use a computer and e-mail or have a family member to assist them; and (4) have correctable (glasses or hearing aids) visual and auditory impairments. Instead of assessing 6MWT, manual muscle test, grip strength, and gait, 1-STS to assess exercise capacity and cardiovascular responses, 5 times STS test to assess and monitor muscle strength. Alongside, correct inhaler use, breathing patterns, coughing can be assessed easily with the virtual connection. Questionnaires including Dyspnea Modified Medical Research Council Scale, St. George Respiratory Questionnaire, the COPD Assessment Test, Cardiac Self-Efficacy Scale, Duke Activity Status Index, Rate Your Plate, Extent of Adherence Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and Activities of Daily Living can be administered through Telehealth without difficulty.
lannaccone et al.[41]	Italy	Short communication	Reorganization of hospital setup and treatment of patients through different units is required when there is an increased flow of patients. In post-COVID-19 unit, postural variation should be performed several times a day. Patients with ARDS can benefit from prolonged prone positioning (even for >12 hours/day) and during non-invasive ventilation, however, pronation procedure should be interrupted during poor oxygenation. There should be different paths for staff and patients of COVID-19 and non-COVID-19. After hospital discharge, telemedicine was used to follow-up with patients at home.
Salawu et al.[42]	UK	Review	Tele-rehabilitation could be useful for PR, psychological support, and nutrition advice for COVID-19 patients, however, those unable to participate in a telerehabilitation program and having balance deficits require face-to-face assessment. COVID-19 patients following discharge from hospital, supervised multidisciplinary telerehabilitation programs should be an integral component of the follow-up.
Yang et al.[43]	China	Review	In COVID-19, pulmonary rehabilitation should be individualized and multidisciplinary approach and cooperation is required.
Kiekens et al.[44]	Italy	Position paper	In this position paper, from the northern Italy region, the proceeding of a webinar on COVID-19 is summarized. The Webinar was organized by the Italian Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, regarding respiratory care in acute and post-acute phases. They were also concerned about the impairments that might develop during intubation, for example, muscle weakness, contracture, joint stiffness, dysphagia, poor QoL, amongst others.
Yang and Yang'45]	China	Nonspecified	Pulmonary rehabilitation has been mentioned as safe, simple, satisfactory and saving lives.
Simonelli et al.[46]	Italy	Short communication	Unexpected and urgent organizational change and roles of Respiratory Physiotherapists' regarding Cardio-Pulmonary Rehabilitation service in COVID-19 emergency in seen in a Northern Italian rehabilitation hospital. RPTs remodeled tasks included: oxygen therapy monitoring, non-invasive ventilation, continuous positive airways pressure delivery, change of posture to improve oxygenation, patients' functional assessment to evaluate motor conditions, and exercise-induced oxygen desaturation. This reorganization badly impacts over professional skills of RPTs, but it could provide practical insights to other facilities facing this crisis like COVID-19.
Gitkind et al.[47]	USA	Perspective	Referring patients for rehabilitation should be judged case-case, based-on discussion with other professionals in the multidisciplinary team, less time consuming than before because of patient overload at emergency, rehabilitation specialist now is considered an integral part of a treating team, therapy period should also be readjusted.
Wang et al.[48]	US	Analysis-perspective	Pulmonary rehabilitation in COVID-19 should include management of nutrition, air-way, posture, clearance technique, oxygen therapy, breathing exercises, stretching, manual therapy, and physical activity. Outpatient PR should be considered for all patients hospitalized with COVID-19.
Vitacca et al.'19	Italy	Position paper	Consensus promoted by the Italian societies of respiratory health care professionals reveled hospital facilities could be reorganized, and; alongside PR for COVID-19 cases there should a separate path for non-COVID-19 cases PR rehabilitation
Grigoletto et al.'50]	Brazil	Editorial	Policy-makers, health care professionals, and healthcare providers should take initiatives to mobilize resources towards building and expanding rehabilitation services including PR to serve the COVID-19 survivors better returning to normal life.
CARM: Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine; Respiratory rehabilitation committee of CARM; Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation Group of CSPMR (Chinese Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation); SF-36: Short form 36; FEV1: Forced expiratory volume in one second; FVC: Forced vital capacity; ICU: Intensive care unit; CAN: Conditions, actions and need; CBR: Community based rehabilitation; PICS: Post intensive care syndrome; PR: Pulmonary rehabilitation; QoL: Quality of life; GGO: Ground-glass opacity; ROM: Range-of-motion; FiO2: High inspiratory oxygen fraction; ARDS: Acute respiratory distress syndrome; PNF: Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation; VHA: Veterans Health Administration; 6MWT: 6-min walk test; 1-STS: 1-min Sit-to-Stand test.