It has almost been two years since the pandemic began and many people have been affected by the new coronavirus, SARs-CoV-2, which causes coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19. Whether you’ve had COVID-19, or know someone who has, it can be a very deadly and debilitating disease that scientists continue to research as there are many things we still don’t know about it.

For individuals who have had COVID-19, physical rehabilitation at all stages is necessary, and physical therapy plays an important part throughout the process.

Physical therapy can effectively improve your respiratory function, improve blood flow through the body, which improves healing, improve your exercise endurance and physical strength, and help to prevent the occurrence of various complications or issues related to inactivity. In addition, there are many co-morbidities that can not only increase your risk of contracting COVID-19, but they can actually increase your risk of death after contracting COVID-19.

Among these co-morbidities are having a body mass index (BMI) above 40 kg/m², hypertension, obesity, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cardiovascular disease to name only a few. Individuals having diabetes, obesity and COPD were more likely to be hospitalized, and those with diabetes, hypertension, and obesity were more likely to have increased severity of COVID-19 and more severe outcomes. These are all modifiable risk factors that can be addressed with healthy lifestyle changes.

According to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), physical exercise has been shown to be essential in the care and prevention of cardiovascular diseases, pulmonary diseases, metabolic diseases, immunological disorders, orthopedic diseases and disabilities, neuromuscular diseases, and cognitive and psychological disorders.

A study published earlier this year demonstrated how physical activity was strongly associated with a lower severity of COVID-19, and lower odds of being hospitalized, being admitted to the ICU, and dying from COVID-19. It was also found that physical IN-activity was the strongest risk factor across all outcomes for developing severe COVID-19 when compared to smoking, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) states that “physical therapists are movement experts who improve quality of life through prescribed exercise, hands-on care, and patient education.” Physical therapists are well-versed in developing tailor-made exercise programs for individuals with many different co-morbidities, and/or  multiple co-morbidities, to safely and effectively help people achieve their fitness goals, maintain or regain their independence, and lead healthy and active lives.

Physical therapists will and should be involved with helping patients who are in the hospital with COVID-19. Whether it’s a physical therapist who specializes in pulmonary rehabilitation and/or an acute care or rehabilitation physical therapist, they will help you to address your goals and to restore physical mobility, and physical and cardiopulmonary function in order to get you back to where you were before you were admitted to the hospital. If you have had COVID-19 in the recent past, and are healthy enough, and have a negative test result, you may want to seek out a physical therapist’s help in an outpatient setting. They can get you back on track and design a fitness program that’s tailor-made for you and your needs and goals, not only to get you in shape and feeling better, but also to help build your immune system and keep you healthy and out of the hospital.

Even if you have not contracted the virus, it is important to remember that staying active is part of retaining your immunity, as well as your ability to recover from illness and injury – including COVID-19.

Beacon Physical Therapy

At Beacon Physical Therapy, we support our clients in establishing healthy movement patterns that help maintain strength, flexibility and mobility. If you are having an issue, make an appointment today. We’d love to meet you and get you back to doing what you love.