This resource will be continuously updated as evidence and guidelines emerge. Information was correct at time of publishing. Date Updated: 22/11/2022
Supporting Patients
Supporting Patients
What are the key issues?
There is limited evidence on management of Long Covid
- Most patients recover spontaneously with support, rest, treatment of symptoms and gradual increase in activity (Greenhalgh et al, 2020)
- Patients usually experience a range of symptoms or complications – so support needs to be multidisciplinary, taking a ‘whole patient’ perspective.
4 types of support may be required:
- Self-care resources and support and peer support
- Generalist care and rehabilitation, e.g. provided by primary care services or multidisciplinary community services
- Specialist clinical assessment, rehabilitation and treatment may be required, e.g. for respiratory, cardiac or neurological symptoms, or specialist psychological support
- Wider social and economic support may be required, e.g. support to access benefits whilst unable to do paid work, or support in unpaid caring role
Public Webinar
‘Long COVID and lessons learnt from other post-viral conditions such as ME and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome’
This public lecture, delivered by Dr Clague-Baker, presented the latest evidence on Long COVID in the UK and worldwide including epidemiology and symptoms. It focused on post-viral fatigue syndrome and compare with other post-viral fatigue syndromes including Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME). It provides information about potential management of these conditions based on current and previous research and advice from people living with these conditions.
This lecture was delivered as the 2021 Paul Wagstaff Commemorative Lecture, hosted by ISCP & the Discipline of Physiotherapy, Trinity College Dublin on the 28th September.
Useful Links & Resources
- NHS – YourCOVIDRecovery program – https://www.yourcovidrecovery.nhs.uk/
- LongCOVIDPhysio – https://longcovid.physio/
Post Exertional Malaise (PEM) and Post Exertional Symptom Exacerbation (PESE) sample symptom Log
- Long COVID Physio – Post-Exertional Symptom Exacerbation (PESE) – https://longcovid.physio/post-exertional-malaise
- World Physiotherapy – Activity Diary – https://world.physio/toolkit/world-pt-day-2021-activity-diary
- World Physiotherapy – Information Sheets – https://world.physio/toolkit/world-pt-day-2021-information-sheets-english
- WHO Support for rehabilitation: Self-management after COVID-19-related illness (second edition) – Support for rehabilitation self-management after COVID-19-related illness (who.int)
Breathlessness Management
Feeling breathless can make you feel panicked or anxious. This can make your breathlessness worse. When you feel breathless you should try to:
- stop speaking and moving
- give yourself time to recover your breath
- relax or distract yourself by focusing on a picture or a view from the window
Managing breathlessness is about controlling your breathing. You can do this no matter how fast or shallow your breath.
