The Long-Hauler’s Guide to Post-COVID-19 Recovery

Since the first confirmed coronavirus case was identified in the United States more than 12 months ago, this last year has been unprecedented. On February 22, the United States surpassed 500,000 COVID-related deaths. Whether you, a family member or a friend have been infected with COVID-19 at some point, we have all been affected by this pandemic in one way or another.

Quarantine, isolation, and social distancing have taken a grave toll on the mental and physical health of many Americans. We are spending more time alone at home and are experiencing increased stress and anxiety in our daily lives. Many people have significantly reduced their activity levels and have become more sedentary during this time. As a result, older adults and those with significant health issues are at higher risk for experiencing sarcopenia, or the deterioration of muscle mass, loss of strength, and function.

Those who have been infected with the virus may also struggle with weakness and changes to their physical function. Individuals who have been hospitalized with COVID-19 are likely to have spent long periods of time in bed, while those who required critical care are at an even higher risk of further adverse outcomes.

Most people who experience the COVID-19 virus will recover fully in 1-2 weeks. However, 10-35% of people who have tested positive, including those who recover at home, experience one or more symptoms, three or more weeks beyond recovery. The term “Long-Hauler” describes those who experience symptoms for weeks or even months after their recovery from the virus.

While fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, and headaches are common symptoms, many sufferers also report weakness, changes in memory, or the inability to focus. This makes it very challenging for some to return to their normal daily routines, exercise, return to work, or care for themselves or their family. Working with a rehabilitation provider like a physical therapist, occupational therapist, or speech-language pathologist can help rebuild strength, endurance, or improve memory and cognition.

At Sheltering Arms, we have created a Post-COVID-19 Recovery Program to help those who have been impacted by this virus. We treat all patients who experienced COVID-19, whether they recovered at home with mild symptoms and are looking to safely return to exercise, or required hospitalization and need help walking independently again.

We take a multidisciplinary approach to work with each patient to understand how their life has been impacted. We then create a personalized program through collaboration with our expert physical, occupational, and speech therapists to ensure patients receive the care they need to improve their symptoms and regain their ability to return to daily life. Please contact us for more information on how to get started and inquire about virtual appointment opportunities.

References:

• https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3026 Greenhalgh, T., Knight, M., A’Court, C., Buxton, M., & Husain, L. (2020). Management of post-acute covid-19 in primary care. BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 370, m3026. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m3026
• https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2771111 Rubin R. (2020). As Their Numbers Grow, COVID-19 “Long Haulers” Stump Experts. JAMA, 10.1001/jama.2020.17709. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.17709
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33001410/ Kirwan, R., McCullough, D., Butler, T., Perez de Heredia, F., Davies, I. G., & Stewart, C. (2020). Sarcopenia during COVID-19 lockdown restrictions: long-term health effects of short-term muscle loss. GeroScience, 42(6), 1547–1578. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-020-00272-3