Rehabilitation and Long COVID
After having COVID-19, most people will start to feel better in a few weeks, however for some people it can take a lot longer to recover. Having ongoing or new symptoms for at least 8 weeks after acute COVID-19 infection is now widely recognised as Long COVID.
The most common symptoms of Long COVID documented include:
Fatigue
Shortness of Breath
Cognitive dysfunction, reduced concentration, brain fog
Memory problems
Difficulty with smell or taste
Cardiac symptoms: Chest pain, tachycardia, palpitations, reduced exercise tolerance, non-specific malaise
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
Dizziness
Fainting
These symptoms can come and go over time and new data has identified that Long COVID can affect those hospitalised with COVID-19 and those who were not.
1 in 10 of all Long COVID cases will exhibit symptoms for a period of 12 weeks or longer .
Fatigue appears to be the most common and debilitating symptom of Long COVID, with a reported increase by 30-40% months after the initial infection.
More specifically fatigue is a condition marked by extreme exhaustion, and is often described by patients as feeling “completely depleted of energy”, “total body shut down” or “no more energy left in the battery”.
Fatigue can make moving and thinking difficult, impact our ability to participate in social and community life, and negatively affect education or work practices. It is not just simply de-conditioning after illness.
When symptoms like fatigue are made worse by physical, cognitive, mental and emotional activities or exertion, this may be a sign of post-exertional symptom exacerberation (PESE).
Symptoms of fatigue are unpredictable and inconsistent making management and performance of daily activities difficult. Physiotherapists can help provide individualised treatment to Long COVID patients to help restore mobility, return to work and activities they enjoy doing. Treatment is largely centred around lifestyle modification, learning and implementing pacing strategies. Our physiotherapist’s can help you to establish your baseline (energy reserve) and work with you to pace out your daily/ weekly activity so as to avoid exacerbation of fatigue or PESE.
If you have concerns that may relate to your COVID-19 recovery, or require further assistance in your rehabilitation please call us or book online with one of our physiotherapists today.
Bowral Clinic: (02) 4861 1223
Moss Vale Clinic: (02) 4868 3994