Blog

By Jen Phillips
Respiratory Physiotherapist

Most of the population will recover fully following a COVID-19 infection, however for a small group of people the lasting effects can have a big impact on their exercise tolerance, return to work and sport, breathing and quality of life.

Long COVID, or Post COVID syndrome, are terms used to describe symptoms that last longer than 12 weeks following initial COVID-19 infection.1 People living with chronic lung disease, chronic cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes or obesity are at a greater risk of developing Long COVID than those without, although it can occur without these being present.1

The most common signs and symptoms include:1,2

• Fatigue
  
• Shortness of Breath on exertion
  
• Difficulty concentrating (brain fog)
  
• Heart palpitations
  
• Chest tightness or chest pain
  
• Cough (can be dry or wet)
  
• Dizziness
  
• Changes in mood (such as increased worry, anxiety, low mood)
  
• Joint aches and pains

Currently, there is no single test for Long COVID, and why it occurs is still not fully understood. The first step is usually for doctors need to rule out other potential causes for the symptoms.2

Physiotherapy can help address some of the symptoms of Long COVID and is recommended to be a key part of the rehabilitation and recovery by the World Health Organisation.3 When seeing a physiotherapist, the first step will be to complete a detailed assessment of the current symptoms, as well as response of those symptoms to exertion, and of any other health conditions.

Treatment will be individualised, depending on the persons current symptoms and function, but may include:

Your Physiotherapist will liaise with your GP and any other medical specialists or allied health professionals involved in your care with the goal to provide coordinated care to allow you to reach your goals.

A great resource has been published by the Lung Foundation Australia and can be found here: https://lungfoundation.com.au/resources/understanding-long-covid/