The Laboratory of Pulmonary Immunology and Exercise at the Institute of Science and Technology of the Federal University of São Paulo (ICT-Unifesp) is trying to identify side effects in patients who have had COVID-19 or have other lung diseases in order to speed up their recovery.
The lab was founded in October 2020 and is supported by FAPESP and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq).
The main goal is the development of clinical and experimental research focused on cellular and molecular immunological aspects related to both the pathophysiology of lung diseases and physical exercise and their interactions in the prevention and treatment of such diseases.
The group carries out rehabilitation projects in patients with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or COVID-19. It also helps elderly people with metabolic syndrome and offers rehabilitation with laser and LED. “In post-COVID patients, the main consequences are muscle weakness, decreased muscle mass, depression, post-traumatic stress, sleep disorders, headaches, fatigue and chronic fatigue,” says Maysa Alves Rodrigues Brandão Rangel.
Rangel is a PhD student in Rehabilitation and Exercise Science at Unifesp, a member of the laboratory team and a FAPESP grantee.
Scientific initiative students from the fields of sports and physiotherapy, master’s and doctoral students of the postgraduate program movement and rehabilitation sciences and bioengineering are involved in the laboratory.
The target audience of the service includes adult and elderly patients with various lung diseases. More than 420 patients have already been treated in the laboratory and about 1,800 people have received outpatient care at their place of residence in collaboration with the Casas do Idoso de São José dos Campos and with the project Movimento Vida in the Campo district of Germany.
“Patients will undergo a thorough evaluation, which will include tests such as bioimpedance, spirometry and electrocardiogram. They answer questionnaires about their health and blood and condensed air from the lungs are collected. Thereafter, patients are encouraged to participate in a 12-week rehabilitation program of one-hour sessions three times a week. Depending on the protocol, they are re-evaluated after 30, 60 or 90 days,” explains the doctoral student at Unifesp. During rehabilitation sessions, in addition to systematic medical examinations, patients perform aerobic and resistance exercises.
Initially, the researchers thought a 12-week program would be ideal, but as the visits progressed, the duration shortened. “We saw that after 45 days of an aerobic activity and resistance training program, patients improved significantly and eventually discontinued treatment as they already felt rehabilitated. We are still investigating these mechanisms to potentially re-adapt the protocol for 45 days,” explains Rangel.
The service is offered to the public free of charge. To participate in the rehabilitation program, those interested should contact us via Whatsapp at (12) 99129-0307.
*With information from the Unifesp Communications Office.