Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40521990›Full record

ArticleJournal of rehabilitation medicine2025

Postural balance and functional muscle strength in the hands and legs one year after hospitalisation due to COVID-19.

Lena Rafsten, Alexandra Larsson, Annie Palstam, Hanna Persson

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Journal of rehabilitation medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Lena RafstenInstitute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. lena.rafsten@vgregion.se.
Alexandra LarssonInstitute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Annie PalstamInstitute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; School of Health and Welfare, Dalarna University, Falun. Sweden.
Hanna PerssonInstitute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThe aim of the study was to investigate postural balance and functional muscle strength over 1 year following hospital discharge due to COVID-19 and identify possible differences depending on age, sex, and level of hospital care.

designA prospective longitudinal study. SUBJECTS: A total of 164 participants were included.

methodsPostural balance, functional leg strength, and functional hand strength were evaluated. Change over time and differences between groups were investigated.

resultsAt the 1-year follow-up postural balance was improved (p = 0.001), as well as strength in the hands (p = 0.001), and legs (p = 0.001). Participants treated at an intensive care unit (ICU) had impaired functional muscle strength in the hands but not in the legs 1 year after discharge. Functional muscle strength in dominant hand on discharge, age, and previous level of physical activity were associated with having more impaired functional muscle strength in the dominant hand 1 year after discharge.

conclusionFunctional muscle strength and postural balance after COVID-19 improved significantly from discharge to the 1-year follow-up although nearly half of the patients still had impaired functional muscle strength 1 year after COVID-19 hospitalization.

trial registrationFoU i Sverige (Research & Development in Sweden, Registration number: 274476, registered 2020-05-28).

Indexed as

COVID-19HandHand StrengthLegMuscle StrengthPostural BalanceAdultAgedFemaleHospitalizationHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesSARS-CoV-2

Identifiers

PMID40521990
PMCPMC12228044

What OpenQuestion holds

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.