How To Care for People with Long Covid

Physical therapists are learning each day about appropriate rehabilitation after SARS-CoV-2 infection, which often involves co-management with a team of medical practitioners. Our collective experience with post-viral fatigue is not entirely new. In addition to the accumulating research evidence on SARS-COV-2, apparent similarities between the presentations of long COVID and myalgic encephalomyelitis suggest we may apply important learnings from ME to long COVID. We now know enough to avoid the same harmful treatment misadventures in which we’ve engaged with ME when working with people with this novel coronavirus, even as we continue to research the best diagnostics and therapeutics. In this session, an interdisciplinary panel provides you with current information regarding activity pacing, phased approaches to rehabilitation, and medical management of long COVID. We draw from current evidence and practice in long COVID to discuss the use of common wearable sensors, phased approaches to rehabilitation, medical evaluation, and pharmacology, using perspectives from ME/CFS as needed to supplement current gaps in long COVID literature. The panel emphasizes specific, actionable recommendations that will help you bring current evidence and practice to your patients and clients on your next day in clinic