Why therapy is essential for covid 19 survivors

1. Why Therapy is Essential for Covid-19 Survivors and How Rehabilitation Can Help? The highly contagious and virulent pathogen, coronavirus has disrupted the day to day life of the world’s population. Causing severe acute respiratory syndrome, the virus is increasing every second at an alarming pace. While the whole medical science world works day and night to find a solution, the only hope people have for coronavirus right now is social distancing, washing hands frequently, and staying at home. The widespread mitigation measures have already proven to be effective and helped few countries in the world in curbing the disease successfully. But these are to reduce the risk of exposure but what about getting back on to once feet after the virus attack? The healthcare professionals including the allied and operational staff are the frontrunners who took charge of healing the contracted. There is another stream of medical professionals who are helping the discharged Covid-19 survivors by providing the much-needed respite in the form of physical and mental rehabilitation. Even though therapy is recommended as ‘optional’ in view of the crisis, availing the physical therapy sessions after the complete recovery would help the survivor find the pulse of life, again!

2. This blog explores the reasons why a therapy is essential for Covid-19 survivors and the role of rehabilitation centers, physiotherapy clinics, occupational therapists, and the speech therapists in the community integration of the survivors. Why therapy is essential for Covid survivors - The ongoing pandemic has different effects on each individual. The elderly are at the most vulnerable end and so the people with chronic conditions such as cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, and lung infections. Many researches have powered the fact that increased lung capacity is one way to beat coronavirus. ● Curbing the hospital readmission - A recent study claims that discharged covid patients have higher risk of hospitalization due to the decline in performance of day to day physical activities. The rehabilitation will help people address this issue by providing home- based or community-based rehabilitation for ailing lives. ● Faster recovery for cardiac and neurological diagnosis - As mentioned earlier, it is the people with chronic cardiac or neurological issues, who fell prey for coronavirus. The risk might not be subsided right after the discharge from the hospital. Availing the rehabilitation at home or at the clinic is one way to make a seamless transition from coronavirus disease to quality and healthy living. ● Surviving or succeeding - The functional abilities of a person might not be the same after a disorder, diseases, or an accident. Coronavirus is not an exemption from it. It is observed in Covid-19 survivors that their functional abilities will not be the same anymore. The skillful and holistic therapy sessions evaluate and help the person to attain their maximum potential in terms of functional abilities. Apart from lending these benefits to the individuals, the physical therapists act as part of an interdisciplinary team that takes the load off their counterparts in the other streams of healthcare services. Here is how it works.

3. ● The biggest burden of Covid-19 is overcrowding. Hospitals are almost full and people are waiting for beds to be vacated. ● The therapists play an essential role in meeting the demands of the people who require extensive rehabilitation care. ● As a result of Covid-19, the number of Post Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) cases are spiking up every day. The rehab therapists take off the burden by taking care of such cases. Recovery of covid survivors is significantly boosted in a society where there is access to quality rehab care and medical facilities than the one without it. By providing innovative, patient-focused, personalized, and impactful care, physical therapists are, indeed, playing their part in the fight with Covid-19. To conclude, coronavirus had exposed the vulnerability of mankind’s existence. Living in extreme time like this demands judicious utilization of healthcare resources and each individual in the healthcare ecosystem responsible for the wellbeing of their community. However, safety of the healthcare providers is a paramount and it is essential to follow every measure for the safety of both the provider and the receiver.