Long COVID and Physiotherapy
By Dr Jen Phillips
Respiratory Physiotherapist
Doctor of Philosophy (Airway clearance and bronchiectasis) - Bond University 2024
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
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:
- breathing retraining,
- education and pacing strategies,
- energy conservation techniques
- physical exercise with the goal to improve function and quality of life
- planning returning to exercise, sport and other daily activities.
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/
Request an appointment with Dr Jen Phillips to find out your treatment options for Long COVID.
REFERENCES
1. Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care (2023). Long COVID. Accessed 14th June 2023 from https://www.health.gov.au/topics/covid-19/long-covid
2. NSW Government (2023). Testing and Managing COVID: Long COVID. Accessed 14th June 2023 from https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/testing-managing/long-covid
3. World Health Organisation (2023). Clinical Management of COVID-19: Living Guideline v6.0
