Patients admitted to hospitals with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 will almost certainly be managed by physiotherapists who work in primary care settings. Physiotherapists are frequently first-contact practitioners, which means they might take responsibility for the early detection of infectious disease and/or workload management in primary care settings. In order to recover completely, most health professionals recommend physiotherapy which has been proved to be helpful and has benefitted a large number of COVID-19 patients worldwide.
How does physiotherapy help in post COVID-19 patients?
1. Reduce breathlessness
All those who’ve been a victim of COVID-19 and have faced severe symptoms will understand this better. Corona virus is primarily focused on the respiratory system and tends to impact the normal lung physiology by damaging the lung tissues. The recovery is slow, and often leads to fibrosis of these tissues, which reduces the viable tissue for exchange of gases. Therefore, when the person is exerted, he feels breathless.
One can overcome this trouble of difficulty in breathing with several pulmonary physiotherapy techniques like pursed lip breathing and the use of incentive spirometer.
2. Overcome fatigue
A person tends to feel overall weakness and fatigue once he/she recovers from COVID-19, which is due to the disease process. Physiotherapy is known to help the patient recover much faster with the help of aerobic exercise after a detailed assessment of the patient’s capacity.
3. Improve respiratory muscle strength
A number of physiotherapy interventions work on your respiratory muscles and help in improving the lung expansion and open up additional viable tissues of your lungs that can gradually help you breathe better and regain strength after recovering from Covid 19.
4. Develop long term endurance
Much like training yourself to be fitter, physiotherapy helps you improve your mobility, strength, endurance and flexibility in a programmed and structured manner. It is also a great way to hit back to your pre COVID-19 health levels.
5. Impact on Mental health
It is a known fact that exercise reduces stress levels and improves mood. Physiotherapy exercises can help you come out of your isolation period blues with ease and helps you focus on your health while uplifting your dark thoughts into a morning of bright sunshine!
Preventing Transmission
The following are recommended practices for general masses to avoid the transmission of COVID-19 while attending physiotherapy sessions:
1. Opt for online consultation if possible.
A large number of physiotherapists across India and abroad are offering free online consultations and treatment sessions for COVID-19 patients. This is the definitely the safest way to recover, while staying at home and avoiding further exposure.
2. If going for offline sessions, follow basic safety precautions at all times.
Hand hygiene should be done on a regular basis, either with an alcohol-based hand massage if your hands are not obviously dirty or with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty. Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose, and mouth. Coughing or sneezing into a bent elbow or tissue, then discarding the tissue, is a good way to practice respiratory hygiene.
That’s all about the physical therapy in Covid- 19 pandemic. Do share the article with your family doctor, family and friends. Especially with people who are suffering or have recently recovered from Corona. Many NGOs and Physios are providing ABSOLUTELY FREE consultations to Covid-19 patients! And don’t hesitate to get your doses of vaccine. Get vaccinated as soon as your turn comes. Till then, Stay Home! Stay Safe!
