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HOW PHYSIOTHERAPY CAN HELP PEOPLE RECOVER FROM COVID-19

PHYSIOTHERAPY:

CARDIORESPIRATORY PHYSIOTHERAPY plays an important role in the treatment of COVID-19.

Cardiorespiratory physiotherapy is an area of physiotherapy that specialises in the prevention , rehabilitation and compensation of patients with diseases and injuries in the heart and lungs.

These conditions may manifest themselves as shortness of breath , persistent cough , increased work of breathing or the reduced ability to exercise.


covid-19


COOMON CARDIORESPIRATORY CONDITIONS INCLUDE :






  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease(COPD)
  • Asthma
  • Bronchiectasis
  • Bronchitis
  • Emphysema
  • Congestive cardiac Failure
  • Respiratory Infections i.e. Pneumonia
  • Hypertension
  • Angina
  • Myocardial Infarction
  • peripheral Vascular Disease.
Depending on the condition , the physiotherapy treatment may include :
  • DEEP BREATHING EXERCISE : to encourage increased lung volumes
  • HANDS ON TECHNIQUES AND BREATHING FACILITATION EXERCISE : to expand the lung capacity.
  • PERCUSSION AND VIBRATIONS : to help you loosen secretions and make coughing easier.
  • COUGHING AND BREATHING STRATEGIES : to help you cough and manage the shortness of breath.
  • BREATHING AND CIRCULATION EXERCISE : to prevent further respiratory and vascular complications such as chest infection and deep venous thrombosis (DVTs).
  • MOBILITY ASSISTANCE : to move safely in bed , sit up , stand , and walk.


Cardiorespiratory physiotherapy encompasses many things , from teaching patients different types of breathing exercise , mobilization exercise and manual techniques to providing postural advice and correction by positioning the body for optimal lung function and oxygen management.
It can be very important for those recovering from virus.

For those who are in critical care physiotherapists can help with weaning off ventilators and beginning early rehabilitation to lessen the muscle deconditioning and weakness that happens during a severe illness.

Even the patients who are well enough to go home will still require some rehabilitation services.

Once the patient has left the intensive care unit , the rehabilitation team continues to help progress their exercise tolerance , monitor their reaction to exercise and provide individualized strengthening exercises to help gain back the strength lost during their ICU stay .

While the patients are very ill , requiring prone positioning to improve oxygenation , physiotherapy can provide guidance to nursing staff to ensure patients are positioned correctly in order to decrease the chance of pressure injuries , and nerve impingements both of which could have a significant impact on the patients recovery.
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