Long COVID is something that people who have had COVID-19 should keep a look out for and please see a physiotherapist if you face any issues.
That is the message from a representative of the Fiji Physiotherapy Association, Dionisio Dickinson as we celebrate World Physiotherapy Day today.
Long COVID can affect nearly every organ system including respiratory system disorders, nervous system and neurocognitive disorders, mental health disorders, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, fatigue, pain and anaemia. Dickinson says Long COVID can even affect people who were fit and healthy before they got COVID.
President of the Fiji Physiotherapy Association, William Koong says 1 in every 10 people living with Long COVID will exhibit symptoms for a period of 12 weeks or longer.
Koong says its a multi-system disease with over 200 listed symptoms which occur in variable combinations and can fluctuate in both predictable and unpredictable patterns.
He says signs and symptoms of Long COVID usually develop during the infection and continue for over 12 weeks or more after the infection. Koong says their role as physiotherapists has become even more critical in the COVID-19 care spectrum.
In explaining Long COVID, Koong said Long COVID, also known as a post-COVID-19 syndrome, post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), chronic COVID syndrome (CCS) and long-haul COVID, is a condition characterized by long-term sequalae —appearing or persisting after the typical convalesce period of COVID-19.
The World Physiotherapy Association says physiotherapy interventions are tailored toward holistic rehabilitation to address all system impairments and play a crucial role in facilitating functional recovery, resumption to work and social normalcy.
Koong has also commended the vaccination programme coordinated by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services and encouraged every Fijian to get vaccinated.
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