We often imagine physical therapy as a technique that helps treat patients after broken bones, torn tendons or a surgical procedure, and while that does make up a portion of our clientele, that’s far from the only groups of people we assist. We assist patients in all walks of life dealing with the fallout of countless conditions, and now we can add COVID-19 to the list.
While we obviously do not want any client coming into the clinic if they have COVID-19 or are contagious, we’ve all read stories about how the virus can hit a person like a mack truck, even once they are “recovered” and no longer contagious. This can lead to a host of physical ailments, including but not limited to:
- Fatigue
- Decreased lung capacity
- Pain
- Muscle deconditioning
- Mobility issues
- Gait problems
Many people make a full recovery and do not experience any of these lasting symptoms, but a sizable portion of Americans can’t shake one or more of the above symptoms weeks and months after they’ve recovered from the virus. They may be wondering where to turn in order to see physical improvements, and we’re happy to say that we’re here to help.
Rehabbing After COVID-19
Physical therapy will not help you beat the virus, but it can absolutely be part of your total recovery program from the symptoms and side effects of the condition. Depending on your specific symptoms, we can develop a treatment plan to address how the virus has affected you the most. For example, if you’re dealing with fatigue and muscle deconditioning, we can develop an individualized exercise program that slowly builds muscle mass and increases your endurance as you progress through the program. Doing nothing won’t get you back to full health, but a targeted therapy plan can help you regain what the virus took from you.
If mobility and lung capacity are your two biggest issues, we can help with that too. Balance training and gait improvements can help you move more easily, and we can share some exercise routines that build lung strength and improve your breathing. Whether that includes some deep breathing exercises during a yoga routine or a walking exercise program that gradually asks your lungs to work harder and become stronger, we can find a routine that gets you back to feeling like your old self before COVID-19.
For many patients, the after effects of COVID are more problematic than overcoming the virus itself, but we want patients to know that we can be a resource for them. Let us know what you’re dealing with, and we’ll develop a program to help. For more information, or to talk to a physical therapist to learn more about what we offer at our clinic, reach out to OrthoRehab Specialists today.
PT of Costa Rican National Soccer Team for 2007 World Cup in Victoria, CAN. Clinical Instructor for University of Minnesota Doctor of Physical Therapy Affiliations
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