Rehabilitation Strategies for Post-COVID-19 Syndrome: The Role of Physical Therapy in Addressing Long-Term Pulmonary, Musculoskeletal, and Neurological Complications
Lalji Bhai Makwana
Abstract
Symptoms associated with post-COVID-19 syndrome, or long COVID, represent a complex set of clinical sequelae for patients after SARS-CoV2 infection. It includes long-term pulmonary, musculoskeletal and neurological complications that drastically interfere with a patient's quality of life and functional independence. Due to the multifaceted nature of these problems, Physical therapy has become a crucial intervention to promote recovery and overall health by way of targeted strategies. Pulmonary rehabilitation is dedicated to enhancing respiratory efficiency, assuaging symptomatology such as dyspnea and fatigue, and exercise capacity reduction through the use of breathing exercises and graded aerobic training. Resistance training, flexibility exercises and functional mobility programs are focused on musculoskeletal complications, i.e., muscle weakness, joint stiffness and deconditioning.