A collection of scientific studies for Long Covid - Therapeutic Interventions

Below are some of the current studies coming out in the physiotherapy world regarding therapeutic interventions for Long Covid.

The interventions in these studies include:

- acupressure

- acupuncture

- therapeutic exercise via Telehealth consultation

- home based respiratory training

- exercise training

- pulmonary rehabilitation

- telerehabilitation

- functional exercise or aerobic exercise combined with breathing techniques via telerehabilitation

The results are promising for all of these, and the studies are of high quality scoring minimum of 7/10 in a quality scale.

It’s great to know that it appears to be effective to deliver rehabilitation exercises and breath-work / respiratory training via consultation over phone/video delivery rather than an in-person setting, which makes it much easier and more possible for us as patients to receive.

It’s also great to see that exercise rehabilitation can be delivered in a safe manner to improve Long Covid symptoms by trained professionals that can prescribe specifically and individual for each client, which is incredibly important with this condition. Exercise rehabilitation must be prescribed at the right time with the right dosage and precautions for the client to gain benefits.

A physiotherapist is highly trained to deliver safe exercise, but I personally recommend you see someone who is knowledgeable in Long Covid/CFS and ideally specialising in Long Covid and CFS, rather than any general physiotherapist.

Acupressure and acupuncture are delivered usually by Chinese Medicine Practitioners and it’s also promising to see positive effects from these interventions.

I have personally received benefit from these.