SingStrong—A singing and breathing retraining intervention for respiratory and other common symptoms of long COVID: A pilot study
Background: Management of Long COVID (LC) is hugely challenging for clinicians. This pilot study evaluated a breathing retraining and singing programme (SingStrong for LC) to address common LC symptoms. The study hypothesized that this intervention would improve symptoms impacting disordered breathi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Canadian Journal of Respiratory Therapy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cjrt.ca/wp-content/uploads/cjrt-2021-074.pdf |
| _version_ | 1811339114396516352 |
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| author | Roisin M. Cahalan Ciara Meade Sarah Mockler |
| author_facet | Roisin M. Cahalan Ciara Meade Sarah Mockler |
| author_sort | Roisin M. Cahalan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Management of Long COVID (LC) is hugely challenging for clinicians. This pilot study evaluated a breathing retraining and singing programme (SingStrong for LC) to address common LC symptoms. The study hypothesized that this intervention would improve symptoms impacting disordered breathing and participant wellbeing.
Methods: The 10-week, bi-weekly online programme was comprised of a 45-min class of mindfulness, breathing retraining, vocal exercises, and singing. Sessions were recorded for non-attenders and conducted by a trained vocal coach experienced in respiratory cohorts. Persons with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis and persisting symptoms were invited to participate. Demographic and COVID-19 data were collected, and the DePaul Symptom Questionnaire Short Form (DSQ- SF) and COVID-19 Yorkshire Rehab Screen questionnaires were administered. Post-intervention focus groups were also conducted.
Results: Of 27 (F = 23(85%)) participants recruited, data from 21 who completed at least 10 (50%) classes were analysed. Participants showed significant pre–post-intervention improvements in all breathlessness symptoms (at rest: P < 0.001; dressing: P = 0.01; stairs: P < 0.001), fatigue (P = 0.03), usual activities (P = 0.04), pain/disability (P = 0.03), voice quality (P = 0.01), and communication/cognition (P = 0.04). Pre–post number of instances meeting DSQ-SF criteria for myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) decreased by a net of nine cases (14.3%). No association between COVID-19 hospitalisation status and diagnosis of ME/CFS was identified. Qualitative feedback from eight participants was overwhelmingly positive with all reporting improvements in breathing and general well-being.
Conclusion: The SingStrong programme shows promise as a viable treatment option for LC sufferers. Future studies are required to further investigate the efficacy of this intervention. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T18:20:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-35e77a474494494794bf21916f406741 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2368-6820 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T18:20:27Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Canadian Journal of Respiratory Therapy |
| spelling | doaj.art-35e77a474494494794bf21916f4067412022-12-22T02:35:27ZengCanadian Society of Respiratory TherapistsCanadian Journal of Respiratory Therapy2368-68202022-03-0158202710.29390/cjrt-2021-074SingStrong—A singing and breathing retraining intervention for respiratory and other common symptoms of long COVID: A pilot studyRoisin M. CahalanCiara MeadeSarah MocklerBackground: Management of Long COVID (LC) is hugely challenging for clinicians. This pilot study evaluated a breathing retraining and singing programme (SingStrong for LC) to address common LC symptoms. The study hypothesized that this intervention would improve symptoms impacting disordered breathing and participant wellbeing. Methods: The 10-week, bi-weekly online programme was comprised of a 45-min class of mindfulness, breathing retraining, vocal exercises, and singing. Sessions were recorded for non-attenders and conducted by a trained vocal coach experienced in respiratory cohorts. Persons with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis and persisting symptoms were invited to participate. Demographic and COVID-19 data were collected, and the DePaul Symptom Questionnaire Short Form (DSQ- SF) and COVID-19 Yorkshire Rehab Screen questionnaires were administered. Post-intervention focus groups were also conducted. Results: Of 27 (F = 23(85%)) participants recruited, data from 21 who completed at least 10 (50%) classes were analysed. Participants showed significant pre–post-intervention improvements in all breathlessness symptoms (at rest: P < 0.001; dressing: P = 0.01; stairs: P < 0.001), fatigue (P = 0.03), usual activities (P = 0.04), pain/disability (P = 0.03), voice quality (P = 0.01), and communication/cognition (P = 0.04). Pre–post number of instances meeting DSQ-SF criteria for myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) decreased by a net of nine cases (14.3%). No association between COVID-19 hospitalisation status and diagnosis of ME/CFS was identified. Qualitative feedback from eight participants was overwhelmingly positive with all reporting improvements in breathing and general well-being. Conclusion: The SingStrong programme shows promise as a viable treatment option for LC sufferers. Future studies are required to further investigate the efficacy of this intervention.https://www.cjrt.ca/wp-content/uploads/cjrt-2021-074.pdflong covidsinging rehabilitationbreathing retrainingdis-ordered breathinglung disease |
| spellingShingle | Roisin M. Cahalan Ciara Meade Sarah Mockler SingStrong—A singing and breathing retraining intervention for respiratory and other common symptoms of long COVID: A pilot study Canadian Journal of Respiratory Therapy long covid singing rehabilitation breathing retraining dis-ordered breathing lung disease |
| title | SingStrong—A singing and breathing retraining intervention for respiratory and other common symptoms of long COVID: A pilot study |
| title_full | SingStrong—A singing and breathing retraining intervention for respiratory and other common symptoms of long COVID: A pilot study |
| title_fullStr | SingStrong—A singing and breathing retraining intervention for respiratory and other common symptoms of long COVID: A pilot study |
| title_full_unstemmed | SingStrong—A singing and breathing retraining intervention for respiratory and other common symptoms of long COVID: A pilot study |
| title_short | SingStrong—A singing and breathing retraining intervention for respiratory and other common symptoms of long COVID: A pilot study |
| title_sort | singstrong a singing and breathing retraining intervention for respiratory and other common symptoms of long covid a pilot study |
| topic | long covid singing rehabilitation breathing retraining dis-ordered breathing lung disease |
| url | https://www.cjrt.ca/wp-content/uploads/cjrt-2021-074.pdf |
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