• 14 Jul 2021
• |
• By Admin

Overview Of Post Covid Physiotherapy Advice & Exercises

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Some patients recovering from Covid-19 have been reported to have experienced multiple organ dysfunction, due to the severe acute respiratory syndrome.

One of the major implications of this is dysfunction of the respiratory system, and this needs extensive care and precautions while recovering in the post-Covid stage.

US National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health have recommended several post Covid Physiotherapy Advice and Exercises, for helping the patients recovering from coronavirus to get well faster.

Three of such Physiotherapy advice & suggestions are:

Conventional Chest Physiotherapy

As per the research, some patients with productive cough can benefit with conventional chest physiotherapy, since it can induce and stimulate coughing. With physiotherapy exercises such as bronchial hygiene maneuvers, patients recovering from covid-19 can benefit and their respiratory system can respond positively to the treatment.

However, there is no evidence or research as of now, that shows that patients in acute stage of the disease, especially with hypoxemic respiratory failure and dry cough can benefit from such physiotherapy treatment. (Reference)

Such patients should be constantly monitored for pulmonary disease.

Exercise & Early Mobilization

Patients recovering from Covid-19 should be encouraged and assisted to perform some lightweight and light intensity exercises, since it will help them to maintain some sort of mobility and functional capacity.

The reason this Physiotherapy advice is suggested: Patients recovering from Covid-19 can experience fatigue, fever, myalgia and other symptoms that drastically reduces their mobility, movements, muscle strength and body functionality Some of the patients can be asked to be prolonged quarantine, that further deteriorates their normal body functions.

With light exercises and gentle movements, the condition of such recovering patients can improve.

Prone Position

Recovering coronavirus patients with Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are recommended to be given prone ventilation for 12-16 hours a day. Although prone ventilation is recommended by experts, it should be administered and give only by knowledgeable and experienced medical staff.

As per US National Library of Medicine, a satisfactory response for prone position among patients can be gauged by the improvement in PaO2/FiO2 ratio: An increase of 10 mmHg in PaO2 or an increase of 20 mmHg in the PaO2/FiO2 ratio is considered to be satisfactory.

In case PaO2/FiO2 ratio is less than 150 mmHg for 6 hours or more in the supine position, then prone positioning should be repeated, till 20% of PaO2/FiO2 is reduced (within 2 hours)

More details about Physiotherapy care for Covid-19 recovering patients can be found here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7297520/

If you need Physiotherapy care and advice for Post-Covid recovering patients, then we at CureNOw can help you. Our UK-trained and certified Physiotherapists can suggest and administer the most optimal post-Covid exercises and treatment, based on the specific case and condition.