Occupational therapy intervention in the hand grasp strength of post-COVID-19 individuals: A proposal for a clinical protocol

ABSTRACT

This study focused on the intervention of occupational therapy in improving hand grasp strength in individuals infected with COVID-19, who were hospitalised. This study aims to identify which of three types of intervention (conventional, using Biometrics E-link® G200 with game interface or no direct occupational therapy intervention) improves hand grasp strength in individuals who had COVID-19. The sample has 120 participants divided randomly into one control group and two experimental groups. To assess the necessary parameters, a dynamometer, the Frontal Assessment Battery and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand will be used. The control group will do the assessment along the same lines as the others but will receive the treatment at the end of the clinical trial. It is known that hand grasp strength is frequently used in activities of daily living so, the results may facilitate the selection of more effective intervention programmes to obtain health gains in the population that had COVID-19.

KEYWORDS:

• Occupational therapy
• hand grasp strength
• COVID-19
• activities of daily living

Acknowledgements

The authors disclosed receipt support for the research of this article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Center for Innovative Care and Health Technology (ciTechCare), Polytechnic of Leiria, Leiria, Portugal, and the financial support provided by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) to their research unit (REF UIDB/05704/2020).