Physiotherapy can help
If you are struggling with ongoing symptoms from a Covid 19 infection, you are not alone.
One in five people diagnosed with COVID-19 have symptoms after five weeks, and one in 10 have symptoms 12 weeks after infection. This condition is known as Long COVID or 'Long Haulers'.
Long COVID has been preliminarily defined as the presence of signs and symptoms that develop during or following an infection consistent with COVID-19 which continue for 12 weeks or more. Typically, it is referred to as acute COVID-19 until 4 weeks and ongoing COVID-19 from 4 to 12 weeks.
Many people living with the disease were previously fit and healthy.
There are over 200 listed symptoms ranging in severity from mild to disabling. Relapses may occur in an irregular pattern, or in response to specific triggers, such as physical or mental activity, stress, menstruation, heat, or alcohol.
Some of the most commonly reported symptoms include:
• Difficulty concentrating, cognitive impairment or ‘brain fog’
• Extreme fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Cough
• Headaches
• Chest pain
• Joint pain
• Muscle aches and pains
• Muscle weakness
• Skin rashes
• Low mood
• Ongoing changes to smell or taste
• Fast-beating or a ‘pounding’ heart
• Sleep disturbances
• Dizziness
• Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
How can physiotherapy help?
It takes time to recover from a severe illness. After appropriate medical specialist assessment, a physiotherapist can help with symptom management, and work with you to support your recovery.
It is important to recognise the symptoms of Post Viral Fatigue and Post Exertional Malaise and adapt treatment / management accordingly. Paced, graded exercise programs, used with many chronic conditions, may not be the answer in managing Long Covid symptoms.
This is a new disease and staying on top of the latest research is important in the management of Long Covid. Our Focus Health Respiratory Physiotherapist Jo Eames is able to assist with managing many of the symptoms - particularly disordered breathing, muscle/joint pain and extreme fatigue.
To make an appointment please call the Te Mata clinic on (06) 877 6897
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