Here’s How Physiotherapy Helps In Covid Recovery

We know that when Covid-19 enters the system, it mostly affects the respiratory system, causing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and pneumonia in severe cases. In the majority of cases, 80% will experience minimal symptoms, 14% will develop pneumonia, 5% will develop septic shock and organ failure (mostly respiratory failure), and 2% will be deadly.

Fever, dizziness, dyspnea, headache, dry cough (which can lead to phlegm) and, in some circumstances, loss of smell and taste are some of the key symptoms to look for in a Covid 19 infected person. Many people who have the delta variation have also complained of diarrhoea and weariness.

“If the patient is in ICU, the physiotherapist treats them from the time the medical parameters stabilise and tries to get them to sit on the side of the bed or even take a few steps while still on a ventilator, with the majority getting to stand before being discharged to a war,” explains Dr. Sameera Gupta, an acclaimed Physio - Occupational Therapist and Award-winning obesity management specialist, who feels that physiotherapists can assist patients in performing simple exercises as well as forcing them to breathe more deeply.

“To help patients breathe, leagues have had to use manual techniques,” she says.

“The patient would be lying on their side or sitting up in a chair, and the therapist would softly clap on their chest, or put our hands over their chest wall or rib cage, and give them a slight shake as they breathe out. The majority of patients benefit from these strategies for reducing respiratory secretions.

This strengthens a patient’s respiratory system, preparing them to learn to dress, move, and make cups of tea again,” adds Dr. Sameera on the physiotherapy procedures that must be completed.

Physiotherapists who work in primary care settings will very probably manage patients admitted to hospitals with confirmed or suspected Covid-19. Due to their close contact with patients, physiotherapists and other professionals are susceptible to infectious disease transmission.

In primary care settings, physiotherapists are usually first-contact practitioners, which means they may be responsible for early diagnosis of infectious disease and/or workload management.

“Physiotherapists and other health professionals must be familiar with Covid-19 and how to prevent its spread, as well as how they can participate in workforce planning,” says the expert, who believes that they must use their professional judgement to choose when, what, and how to provide care while keeping in mind that this is not always the best environment for care.

“At the same time, we must recognise that our profession is vital to our community’s health, and that there are people in our communities whose health may be jeopardised by care disruptions,” she says. While assisting Covid patients, keep these suggestions and inputs in mind.

Who benefits from physiotherapy?

The compass of activity is vast, and it can profit people of all periods and backgrounds. Some groups that can profit from activity, according to the expert are

• Neurological cases: People suffering from neurological diseases like stroke, Parkinson’s complaint, or multiple sclerosis can ameliorate their mobility and function with activity.
• Senior citizen case: Activity helps seniors maintain their independence, reduce cascade, and manage age- related conditions like osteoporosis.
• Paediatric cases: Children with experimental detainments, cerebral paralysis, or sports injuries can profit from activity to reach their full eventuality.
• Athletes: Physiotherapists help athletes in recovering from injuries, precluding unborn injuries, and enhancing performance.
• Pre- and postnatal women: Physiotherapy can help women prepare for parturition and recover postpartum by addressing issues like pelvic pain and urinary incontinence.

  ETOnline

by Kayalvizhi Arivalan, Femina