The Physiotherapy Approach to Long COVID Recovery: How We're Helping Patients Regain Their Energy and Mobility

At Lambert Sports Clinic in Surbiton, our expert physiotherapy team led by Sharon Edwards with 30 years of experience is pioneering effective rehabilitation strategies for Long COVID patients, helping them overcome persistent symptoms and return to their pre-COVID lives.

Understanding Long COVID and Its Impact

Long COVID, or Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), affects approximately 10-30% of people who contract COVID-19. These individuals experience persistent symptoms that continue for weeks, months, or even years after the initial infection has resolved. At Lambert Sports Clinic in Surbiton, we've seen firsthand how these lingering symptoms can significantly impact quality of life.

Common Long COVID symptoms that our physiotherapy team addresses include:

• Persistent fatigue and reduced exercise tolerance
• Shortness of breath and respiratory difficulties
• Joint and muscle pain
• Reduced muscle strength and endurance
• Balance and coordination issues
• Brain fog and cognitive challenges
• Autonomic nervous system dysfunction

These symptoms can create a vicious cycle: fatigue leads to reduced activity, which causes deconditioning, which in turn worsens fatigue. Our physiotherapy approach aims to break this cycle through carefully structured rehabilitation programs.

How Physiotherapy Specifically Helps Long COVID Recovery

1. Personalized Exercise Prescription

At Lambert Sports Clinic, Sharon Edwards and our physiotherapy team develop individualized exercise programs that carefully balance activity with rest. Unlike generic exercise advice, our approach is tailored to each patient's specific symptoms, severity, and baseline function.

For Long COVID patients, we typically implement:

• Pacing strategies: We teach patients to manage their energy expenditure throughout the day, preventing the "boom and bust" cycle that can worsen symptoms.
• Graded exercise therapy: Starting with very gentle exercises and gradually increasing intensity as tolerated, always staying below the threshold that triggers symptom flares.
• Heart rate monitoring: We often use heart rate parameters to guide exercise intensity, ensuring patients stay within safe zones that promote recovery rather than setbacks.

Our Surbiton clinic's approach differs from conventional rehabilitation by emphasizing that more isn't always better. For Long COVID patients, carefully dosed exercise is key to recovery.

2. Respiratory Rehabilitation

Many Long COVID patients experience persistent breathing difficulties. Our specialized respiratory physiotherapy techniques help address these issues through:

• Breathing pattern retraining: Correcting dysfunctional breathing patterns that may have developed during or after COVID-19 infection.
• Respiratory muscle training: Strengthening the diaphragm and accessory breathing muscles to improve respiratory efficiency.
• Airway clearance techniques: For patients with persistent mucus or congestion issues.
• Posture optimization: Improving thoracic mobility and posture to enhance breathing mechanics.

These techniques have proven particularly effective for our Surbiton patients who experience shortness of breath during daily activities or exercise.

3. Cardiovascular Reconditioning

COVID-19 can impact the cardiovascular system, and many Long COVID patients experience postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) or other forms of dysautonomia. Our physiotherapy approach includes:

• Graduated cardiovascular training: Carefully progressed aerobic exercise to rebuild cardiovascular fitness without triggering symptom flares.
• Positional training: Exercises performed in different positions (lying, sitting, standing) to recondition the autonomic nervous system.
• Compression garment advice: Recommendations for compression stockings or abdominal binders when appropriate.

4. Neuromuscular Rehabilitation

Many Long COVID patients experience muscle weakness, pain, and coordination issues. Our physiotherapy team addresses these through:

• Targeted strength training: Focusing on key muscle groups that may have weakened during illness or inactivity.
• Proprioceptive training: Exercises to improve balance and coordination.
• Manual therapy: Hands-on techniques to address muscle tension, joint restrictions, and pain.
• Neuromuscular electrical stimulation: When appropriate, to assist with muscle activation and strengthening.

Patient Success Stories from Lambert Sports Clinic

Sarah's Journey: From Bedridden to Back at Work

"After COVID, I could barely walk to the bathroom without getting exhausted. My GP referred me to Sharon at Lambert Sports Clinic, and it was life-changing. The team understood that pushing too hard made me worse, not better. They started me with gentle breathing exercises and very short walking intervals. Six months later, I'm back at work part-time and can enjoy walks with my family again. Their understanding of pacing was crucial to my recovery." - Sarah, 42, Teacher

James's Recovery: Overcoming Post-COVID Breathing Difficulties

"I never had asthma before COVID, but afterwards, I couldn't climb a flight of stairs without gasping for air. The respiratory physiotherapy at Lambert Sports Clinic taught me how to breathe efficiently again. Sharon's breathing pattern retraining and the gradual exercise program they designed specifically for me made all the difference. After four months of treatment, I completed a 5K charity walk - something that seemed impossible when I started." - James, 56, Accountant

Emma's Transformation: Managing Post-Exertional Malaise

"The most frustrating part of Long COVID for me was the unpredictability. I'd feel okay one day, do too much, then be bedridden for the next three days. The physiotherapists at Lambert Sports Clinic taught me about energy conservation and heart rate monitoring. They showed me how to stay below my 'crash threshold' while gradually building my tolerance. It's been a slow process, but I'm now able to manage a consistent level of activity without the devastating crashes I used to experience." - Emma, 35, Graphic Designer

Our Holistic Approach to Post-Viral Recovery

At Lambert Sports Clinic in Surbiton, we recognize that Long COVID affects the whole person, not just individual body systems. Our holistic approach includes:

1. Multidisciplinary Collaboration

We work closely with other healthcare professionals to ensure comprehensive care:

• Regular communication with GPs and specialists
• Collaboration with occupational therapists for activity modification and energy conservation strategies
• Referrals to nutritionists for dietary support when needed
• Partnerships with mental health professionals for psychological support

2. Education and Self-Management

We empower our patients with knowledge and skills:

• Detailed explanation of Long COVID mechanisms and recovery principles
• Activity diaries and symptom tracking tools
• Practical pacing strategies for daily life
• Resources for ongoing self-management

3. Psychological Support

We address the emotional impact of Long COVID:

• Validation of patients' experiences
• Strategies for managing the psychological aspects of chronic illness
• Goal-setting approaches that celebrate small wins
• Support for managing the uncertainty of recovery

4. Lifestyle Optimization

We help patients optimize other aspects of health that support recovery:

• Sleep hygiene strategies
• Stress management techniques
• Nutritional considerations for post-viral recovery
• Environmental modifications to conserve energy

The Science Behind Our Approach

Our Long COVID rehabilitation program at Lambert Sports Clinic is based on emerging research and clinical guidelines. Current evidence suggests that:

• Carefully graded exercise is beneficial for most Long COVID patients, but must be individually tailored and monitored
• Respiratory rehabilitation techniques can improve breathing efficiency and reduce dyspnea
• Autonomic nervous system dysfunction requires specialized rehabilitation approaches
• Pacing strategies are essential to prevent post-exertional symptom exacerbation

Sharon Edwards regularly updates our protocols based on the latest research, ensuring our patients receive the most effective evidence-based care.

When to Seek Physiotherapy for Long COVID

We recommend considering physiotherapy if you:

• Have had COVID-19 and continue to experience symptoms beyond 12 weeks
• Notice that your energy levels, breathing, or physical function haven't returned to pre-COVID levels
• Experience post-exertional malaise (worsening of symptoms after physical or mental exertion)
• Have been diagnosed with Long COVID by your GP
• Want to safely rebuild your fitness after COVID-19

The sooner you begin appropriate rehabilitation, the better your outcomes are likely to be. At Lambert Sports Clinic in Surbiton, we offer quick appointment availability to ensure you can start your recovery journey without delay.

Our Commitment to Long COVID Recovery

At Lambert Sports Clinic, we're committed to advancing Long COVID rehabilitation through:

• Ongoing professional development for our physiotherapy team
• Participation in Long COVID research and knowledge-sharing networks
• Advocacy for better recognition and support for Long COVID patients
• Development of innovative rehabilitation approaches

Under Sharon Edwards' leadership, our Surbiton clinic has become a trusted resource for Long COVID recovery in the London area, with patients traveling from across the region to access our specialized care.