Physical Therapy and COVID Recovery
February 23, 2021 – Just over one year ago the first COVID-19 case was reported in the United States. Since then, many things have changed, especially in the health care field. By now, you have probably known someone who has been affected by the virus in some way. Whether that way be big or small, it is important to know that the therapists at Witte Physical Therapy are prepared to help you or a loved one get back to life as a part of recovering from illness. Our therapists have been preparing and educating themselves on the lingering effects from COVID-19 and what they can do to help. In today’s blog we will break down some of the effects that may linger after COVID-19 recovery and how Physical Therapists can help.
Below are some common signs and symptoms that may linger for a long period after COVID:
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Cough
- Joint pain
- Chest pain, muscle pain, or headache
- Fast or pounding heartbeat
- Loss of smell or taste
- Memory, concentration, or sleep problems
- Rash or hair loss
Physical therapists are trained to help with muscle and joint pain that can be caused from COVID-19 and possible deconditioning associated with hospital stays. With deconditioning comes muscle strength impairments, decreased heart and lung capacity, balance, endurance, and ability to walk and climb stairs effectively. Our therapists also have a good understanding of proper breathing techniques and training to assist with fatigue, shortness of breath, and cough. Physical Therapists are a good resource to have in case of any other symptoms you may be concerned about. Some examples of COVID-19 rehabilitation with physical therapy can include:
- Exercise and Strength training:
- Whole Body strengthening
- Aerobic reconditioning
- Stretching
- Neuromuscular retraining:
- Breathing, chest wall, and diaphragm retraining
- Posture and core retraining for better balance and body awareness
- Gait training
- Manual Therapy
- Soft tissue mobilization to improve pain and soft tissue extensibility
- Education
- Energy conservation techniques
- Activity modifications
- Relaxation strategies
Furthermore, a recent study compiled information from various articles discussing COVID-19 rehab and physical therapy. It concluded, “…the physical therapy of COVID-19 patients will not only reduce the mortality rate of patients, hospital admission time and medical expenses, but also save medical resources, reduce personal and national economic losses, and the probability of adverse social stability events such as medical collapse. Therefore, physical therapy should be introduced into the mainstream treatment of COVID-19 patients as early as possible.”
Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7443542/:
J Phys Ther Sci. 2020; 32(8): 545–549.
Published online 2020 Aug 8. doi: 10.1589/jpts.32.545
For more information about how the therapists at Witte Physical Therapy can help you or a loved one recover from COVID-19, or if you would like to schedule an appointment please give us a call in Louisville at 402-234-3333 and in Plattsmouth at 402-298-4747!