A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of a [Post-COVID] and Recovery Intervention Delivered in a Football Club Community Trust, 2025, Rimmer et al.

[SNT Gatchaman]

A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of a Post-COVID-Condition Rehabilitation and Recovery Intervention Delivered in a Football Club Community Trust

Spoiler: Authors

Rimmer, Steven; Herbert, Adam J; Kelly, Adam L; Khawaja, Irfan; Lee, Sam; Gough, Lewis A

AIM
Post-COVID condition (PCC) is largely considered the biggest public health emergency in recent times. The role of exercise therapy in PCC is currently unknown, and evaluative studies are currently lacking in this area. This study therefore aimed to evaluate the effects of a football club community trust exercise rehabilitation programme on physical function and quality of life in individuals with PCC.

METHOD
A mixed-methods retrospective design was employed, utilising a framework to assess the programmes reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance (RE-AIM). Quantitative data (questionnaires and physiological assessments) were collected at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks during the programme, and at 6 months post-intervention (n = 7). Qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured focus groups at week 12 (n = 7) and 12 months (n = 5) post-intervention. Quantitative data and qualitative data were analysed using repeated measures ANOVAs and thematic analysis, respectively.

RESULTS
The programme led to significant improvements in physical function, including increased six-minute walking distance (6MWT, p < 0.001), one-minute sit-to-stand repetitions (1MSST, p < 0.035), and lung function (spirometry; MIP: p = 0.048, MEP: p = 0.024). Participants also reported enhanced QoL (HRQoL-14, p = 0.004), reduced anxiety (GAD-7, p = 0.008) and depression (PHQ-9, p = 0.008), and increased confidence and self-efficacy. The programme was well-received, with participants valuing the supportive environment and personalised approach.

CONCLUSIONS
Football community trust exercise rehabilitation programmes can effectively improve physical function and quality of life in individuals with PCC, offering a promising model for community-based rehabilitation. Further studies are needed with larger sample sizes to assess the scalability of similar programmes.

Web | DOI | PDF | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health | Open Access

 

[SNT Gatchaman]

"Guys. Exercise therapy-based rehabilitation, but at the football club."

"Yeah cool. Let's not have a control group."

"Sounds promising."

 

[Utsikt]

From limitations:

Additionally, we acknowledge the absence of a control group. Therefore, we cannot directly attribute all of the observed benefits to the PCCRRP or understand the influence of factors such as support from previous rehabilitation specialists or social interaction with other participants.

No, therefore, you cannot determine if there were any benefits at all from the intervention.

This is like thinking that bias can only amplify positive effects, not create the appearance of effects that are not there.

 

[rvallee]

I'm pretty sure this isn't even the first trial of exactly this, as in literally a football club in the UK, although this may be a paper on the same program, I don't feel it's worth the effort to find out.

But as much as the idea that LC is considered an emergency by anyone but the sufferers is one hell of a bunch of BS, it's immediately outdone by the idea that the role of exercise therapy is unknown. This whole "aw shucks we just don't know much here" routine is completely inappropriate.

Because to pretend this, one would have to not read or know a damn thing about it from both the popular press and academic publishing. Literally millions of people have been subjected to those already, as part of clinics offering mostly this and we are almost 6 years into this. This is a completely invalid way of doing anything, they just completely ignore everything that's happening and make blatantly false claims at most steps on the way.

The blatant dishonesty needed for this is on the same level as the most lying liar politicians out there. Which is also wrong in itself, and it seems that one of the big consequences of living in societies where liars and bullshitters thrive is that it becomes a model for everyone to follow.