The crucial role of physiotherapists in COVID-19 recovery

Physiotherapists are part of multidisciplinary work teams that treat a disease that affects respiratory function and mobility of people affected by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. 

Covid-19 is a disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. It affects respiratory function and mobility. Regarding the functional part, if the patient has not suffered a long period in bed, he has had to be in a room of reduced dimensions, which has favored the lack of movement in the isolation phase—why physiotherapists must work on mobility.

What is physiotherapy?

The WHO defines physiotherapy as the science of treatment through physical means. It is a professional field based on physical therapy, a discipline in the field of health sciences.

The objective of physiotherapy is to prevent and treat different symptoms of multiple acute and chronic diseases. It is characterized by seeking the proper development of the functions of the body’s systems.

Why is it important to have a physiotherapist in the treatment of patients with Covid-19?

Depending on the degree of affectation of the disease of patients with Covid-19, our role as physiotherapists will have more or less presence. Still, in any case, physiotherapists are responsible for returning functionality to patients. 

From a respiratory point of view, patients learn to breathe more consciously, which will help them control distress in moments of respiratory distress (dyspnea) and thus improve their breathing capacity. This will cause a better exchange of oxygen from the tissues throughout the body. 

As for the locomotor system, physiotherapy aims to combat lack of movement and thus avoid muscle atrophy, limit joint mobility, and prevent alterations such as decubitus ulcers and vascular affectations.

Physiotherapy in patients with Covid-19 in the ICU

Depending on the severity of the patient, physiotherapists must treat in a more active way or less as long as the patient is stabilized. 

In patients with sedation or a low level of consciousness, the treatment is basically passive. Depending on the days of stay in the ICU, the patient is very myopathic, with more weakness and loss of muscle mass. Physiotherapists must also consider if the patient breathes spontaneously or is on mechanical or assisted respiration. 

Physiotherapists will make you collaborate as you connect with the environment and as long as your functional capacity allows it. In this phase, extra emotional support is important since the family cannot accompany it. 

Physiotherapy during hospitalization

In this phase, the degree of collaboration of the patient is much more important. Physiotherapists must follow an active or assisted pattern, both for the extremities and the respiratory system. At this time, the mobilization of secretions and expectoration is important and the recovery of respiratory volume. 

Physiotherapists must make it easier for patients to be seated for as long as possible and thus regain the ability to walk. 

Physiotherapy at the Post-Covid Unit

In this phase, the patient is free of disease, but not of its sequelae, due to lack of mobilization. 

Physiotherapists must reinforce their autonomy to be able to discharge them from the hospital. In many cases, they still depend on oxygen therapy to maintain optimal saturation levels. 

Physiotherapists will actively work in morning and afternoon sessions seven days a week; physiotherapists find some patients who get tired right away with whom physiotherapists have to work and respect their fatigue.

Home physiotherapy

In most cases, patients must continue to undergo physiotherapy treatment once they return home, where they will need to readjust to the environment. In this phase, it is recommended to go for a walk in the street Physiotherapists do not know what long-term consequences are. Covid-19 may have, but it seems that they will be frequent and diverse; a long recovery process awaits them.

Physiotherapists must also take into account the problems derived from age and previous pathologies and give advice and health recommendations adapted to the circumstances of each patient.

Physiotherapists must teach patients to assume part of their recovery process by encouraging work autonomously to carry out an appropriate exercise program for each one.

 Conclusions

 The Covid-19 pandemic has caught us by surprise; no one expected a health problem of such magnitude.

 At Marham, you can consult with many physiotherapist in Lahore. As physiotherapists, we have suffered fear, anguish, and much uncertainty. Physiotherapists have had to make a great effort to adapt due to working with isolation equipment, minimizing physical contact, and treating the patient’s loneliness.

 Patients who have been in the ICU have presented neuromuscular and neurological sequelae with severe myopathies and respiratory deficit; therefore, the whole process has been much slower and more difficult.

 Being part of a multidisciplinary team means that a comprehensive treatment of the patient has been carried out.