Covid 19, Physiotherapy Rehabilitation after being in intensive care unit (ICU) for Coronavirus infection in London. Respiratory rehabilitation, chest physiotherapy and muscle  strength rehabilitation with our physiotherapist specialised in mobilisation and chest physiotherapy following an infection with Covid 19 (coronavirus) or a stay in the ICU. Home visit Rehabilitation, online video consultation and practice treatment covered by Axa Bupa

Covid 19 (coronavirus) rehabilitation: why is it important?

There are about 4 different ways to be affected by Covid 19:

• Asymptomatic patient
• Moderate form of affection with loss of smell, back pain & backache with nose congestion but no mucus
• Pulmonary infection with strong flu-like symptoms and often the apparition of pneumonia as sur-infection which leads to a shortness of breath
• Strong infection with underlying factor: sadly these patients need to be taken to ICU to be under respirator for many days due to respiratory distress and lung damage. A stay in ICU always leads to a loss of muscle mass, strength, hand dexterity with often a few days of cognitive impairment.

This is for the last two types of patients that physiotherapy rehabilitation and chest physiotherapy training are crucial for an optimised recovery. Strengthening your legs, arms and back muscles, working on your balance and walk, rehabilitating your hand dexterity with our hand therapy, removing any mucus from your lung and strengthening your diaphragm and pulmonary capacity, will be the basis of your rehabilitation with our specialised physiotherapist in recovery and respiratory disease.

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Which treatment can be done after a covid 19 infection?

This physio rehabilitation of the moderate type of patients can be done via video, home visit or practice appointment.

Physio rehabilitation for patients after ICU usually needs to be done at home until they are able to be more independent to come to the practice, or have a video consultation with the help of a family member.

Covid 19 physiotherapy treatment and rehabilitation with our physiotherapist in London

Rich of their background and experience in rehabilitation after a long stay at the hospital, our MSK physio will be able to tailor the best recovery protocol and exercises for you to recover your mobility and autonomy.

Respiratory issue and rehabilitation is one of our speciality in our physio practice. We use chest physiotherapy, a technique developed in France 20 years ago along with diaphragm and ribcage exercises to bring you the best breathing comfort along with a good pulmonary capacity. Our physio has many years of expertise and has been trained by James Turgis, founder of the practice with 20 years of experience in respiratory physiotherapy.

The combination of both knowledge will allow our physio to lead you to an optimal recovery.

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Covid 19 (coronavirus), home visit rehabilitation in London, online Covid 19 video consultation and physio treatment post coronavirus in our physio practice in Moorgate – Monument, Clapham, Belgravia Westminster covered by AXA, Bupa, Cigna

Depending on your need, you can carry your physio treatment & rehabilitation at home in London with our virtual consultation, or you can visit us in our practice at:

• Light Centre Belgravia near Victoria station, Knightsbridge & Sloane Square
• Light Centre Monument near London Bridge, Bank & Moorgate station, in the heart of the City of London,
• Make me feel Pharmacie in Clapham, near Clapham South station and Battersea.
• Light Centre Clapham, near Clapham Common

Our physiotherapy and osteopathy treatments are covered by most health insurances and are Bupa registered & recognised (BUPA Global and BUPA UK), Axa registered & recognised (AXA International, AXA ppp), Cigna registered & recognised and WPA registered & recognised

For an appointment with our Covid 19 physiotherapist specialist in London, call : 0207 125 0262 – 07824 553765

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How does a stay in ICU following a Covid 19 (coronavirus) affects your body?

The loss of muscle mass or atrophy is one of the most important and frequent problems observed in patients hospitalized in the ICU, affecting the cardiovascular, the respiratory and the circulatory system. It is mainly caused by the prolonged bed rest, the sedation and the immobilisation.

After admission to the ICU, it is important to start an individual physiotherapy mobilisation program for each patient. The appropriate choice of technique requires a thorough physiotherapy assessment, which includes the study of the patient’s medical history and an evaluation of the cardiac and respiratory reserve as well as of other factors related to the overall clinical picture of the patient.

Physiotherapy mobilisation techniques should be proportionate to the patient’s capabilities and their level of cooperation.

There are many techniques that can be used, such as:

• Mobilisation and exercises
• Work on transfers (safely going from the bed to the chair…)
• Muscle strengthening (full body exercises, legs, arms, back)
• Gait re-education.
• Balance re-education to walk in a safe way and go back to sports when possible
• Passive, active, assisted exercises.
• Exercises with resistance.
• Motivation exercises

Lack of balance and walk following a stay in intensive care unit after covid-19

Individuals with ICU-acquired weakness typically have significant activity limitations, often requiring physical assistance for even the most basic activities associated with bed mobility. Many of these individuals have activity limitations months to years after hospitalisation.

Given the potential sensory and neuromuscular changes with ICU-acquired weakness, it is appropriate to measure and rehabilitate the balance of the patient so they can start walking and so improve their vertical blood flow and start being more independent.

Prolonged bed rest and inactivity contribute to deconditioning (reduced muscle size, strength, coordination, balance, endurance, and functioning) with an associated low mood. That is the reason why allowing a good balance and walk to the patient through exercises and strengthening will be one of the first steps to a optimised recovery.

Regain Dexterity and physiotherapy hand therapy after covid 19

For the same reasons as above, the loss of muscle mass can affect patients who haven’t used their hands for a long time. It is not rare that patients can find using fine tool such as a pen, or typing on small letter cases on their mobile, slightly difficult. Our physiotherapist will give them exercises to work on the hand and fingers’ mobility and dexterity.

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How does Covid-19 (corona virus) affect the Lungs?

Although many people with COVID-19 have no symptoms or only mild symptoms, some of the patients develop severe respiratory illness and may need to be admitted for intensive care.

When coronavirus enters the body, it does it via the respiratory tract. Here it behaves like other viruses, resulting as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the virus typically attacked the lungs in three phases: Viral replication, immune hyper-reactivity and pulmonary (lung) destruction.

COVID-19 can trigger an exaggerated immune response setting off a chain of reactions, which causes increased inflammation and fluid to fill the lungs. This can lead to pneumonia, an infection of the tiny air sacs called alveoli. These are delicate balloon-like structures that fill with air when we take a breath in and allow the oxygen to pass from the lungs into the blood for transportation to the rest of the body.

For most people (more than 8 out of 10 cases) symptoms are mild. But for some, the infection gets more severe. About 5 to 8 days after symptoms begin, they have shortness of breath (dyspnea) and Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) can begin a few days later.

ARDS can cause rapid breathing, a fast heart rate, dizziness, and sweating. It damages the tissues and blood vessels in the alveoli, causing debris to collect inside them. This makes it harder or even impossible to breathe.

In some cases, breathing becomes difficult and patients need to be put on ventilator.

How to treat a patient after a stay in intensive care unit following a Covid 19 lung infection?

In order to avoid any shortness of breath in the future, difficulty to do sports or long walk, it is important to rehabilitate the lungs properly in specific stages. This will allow to give you back a good pulmonary strength and capacity and not to be limited in your activity due to lung limitation.

• Auscultation of the lung to make sure there is no mucus that could lead to a sur-infection
• Removing and draining the mucus using chest physiotherapy if there is
• Built up strength of your diaphragm and respiratory accessory muscle for a full oxygen intake
• Reduce breathlessness using endurance respiratory exercises
• Reduce fatigue with abdominal breathing and learning to breath oxygen more efficiently
• Manage respiratory pain, if any, with stretching exercises
• Provide psychological support.
• Effort and endurance training.

For the most athletic, our personal trainer will be able to complete this post covid 19 rehabilitation with a specific fitness program. Call us for info 02071250262 / 07824553765

References.

Muscle Atrophy in Intensive Care Unit Patients. Konstantinos Koukourikos, Areti Tsaloglidou, and Labrini Kourkouta

Intensive Care Unit–Acquired Weakness: Implications for Physical Therapist ManagementAmy Nordon-Craft, Marc Moss, Dianna Quan, Margaret Schenkman

Intensive care unit-acquired weakness. Richard Appleton, MBChB FRCA, John Kinsella, MBBS FRCA MD

How does coronavirus kill? Clinicians trace a ferocious rampage through the body, from brain to toes. By Meredith Wadman, Jennifer Couzin-Frankel, Jocelyn Kaiser, Catherine Matacic