Are you still struggling after a COVID-19 infection? You are not alone!
ReActive Physiotherapy has been a leader in offering care to people affected by COVID-19 since May 2020. We offer an innovative, best-evidence compassionate physiotherapy for people living with COVID-19 and Long COVID.
These changes should get better over time, some may take longer than others, but there are things you can do to help:
- Breathing Retraining
- Activity Management
- Heart Rate and Oximetry Monitoring
- Thoracic Mobility/Stretching
- Pacing
- Managing Fatigue
- Strengthening
- Careful Cardiovascular Conditioning
- Planning and Assisting with Return to Work
Many clients who had severe illness, were hospitalized or needed oxygen, may need ongoing physiotherapy rehabilitation. However, research now tells us that 10-20% of people will be struggling with Long COVID symptoms 12 weeks after infection even after a relatively mild acute illness.
Data shows us that you are more likely to have COVID if you are a health care worker, part time service worker or from a racialized community. We will work with all clients for coverage of services.
What is Long COVID?
Long COVID describes clients with longer, complex course of illness that lasts beyond 12 weeks after infection. Symptoms may come and go, change over time and affect any system in the body – but very real and not to be ignored. Patients describe having multiple tests that don’t explain their symptoms. You are not alone. Some symptoms you may be dealing with:
- Extreme fatigue from mental or physical tasks
- Breathlessness, tightness or pain in the chest or shoulders
- Intermittent and recurring flare up of viral symptoms (sore throat, fever, body aches)
- Unable to maintain previous levels of activity
- Unrefreshing sleep
- Brain fog, memory loss
- Joint or muscle pain
Long COVID clients report relapses over long periods of time that maybe made worse with exercise, challenging mental tasks, stressful experiences or intense periods of work. This is called post-exertional malaise and consistent for people with Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome.
If you are a person living with Long COVID, we can help.
- Listening and validating to your concerns
- Increasing restorative rest and relaxation
- Charting and managing your pulse oximetry
- Highlighting general health concerns such as sleep, hydration, stimulants
- Assist with planning and pacing
- Heart rate monitoring
- Gradual increase in activities
- Setting goals and advocating with employers for return to work