Rehab Select Blog

One thing is certain: COVID-19 affects people in different ways. The majority will experience mild to moderate symptoms, including a fever, a dry cough, and tiredness. Some will also have muscular aches and pains, a sore throat, a stomach upset, headaches, conjunctivitis, the loss of taste or smell, or a skin rash. An unfortunate one in five COVID-19 patients will develop more serious symptoms, including difficulty breathing, chest pain, loss of muscle control, severe inflammation, and organ damage.

It may seem like the pandemic is almost over. According to the CDC, in March of 2021, hospitalizations are down 70 percent since the January peak. At this time, more than 15 percent of Americans are fully vaccinated, according to a Wall Street Journal report. And almost everyone who wants the vaccine should be able to receive one by May.

If you have contracted COVID-19 and are still suffering from symptoms for more than four weeks after the initial diagnosis, you're not alone. Many patients experience long-term COVID symptoms, and medical professionals are taking notice.

As a respiratory illness, COVID-19 tends to hit the lungs the hardest of all the organs in the body. In fact, lung damage is one of the most common lingering symptoms reported by those who experience long-term effects from COVID-19.

The coronavirus is still relatively new, with the first case in North America reported in the United States in January of 2020. Yet, almost 29 million cases have been reported in March of 2021. Of those nearly 30 million cases, most recover as expected. But there proves to be a notable instance of COVID-19 long haulers whose recovery takes longer than expected.

In a recent survey, up to 35% of adults who tested positive for COVID 19 report still feeling the effects of the infection two to three weeks after diagnosis. After the initial illness, the virus can cause lasting effects, particularly to the lungs, heart, and brain.

Over the past year, researchers have been avidly working to uncover any information they can about COVID-19: specifically, how to prevent, detect, and treat it. Every new discovery related to COVID-19 gives long-term care providers more effective tools to care for their patients every day.

You might be surprised to know that neuromuscular rehabilitation therapy can benefit a variety of people and has proven effective for mitigating the effects of MS, Parkinson’s disease, and stroke. Neuromuscular therapy (NMT) helps counteract the impact of these conditions on your nerves and muscles.

Parkinson’s disease is one of the most common neurological disorders in the U.S., largely impacting more men over the age of 60 than women and younger age groups. While the life expectancy of a person with Parkinson’s is not much different than the general population, the condition can certainly impact the quality of your life.

The key to improving life with Parkinson’s disease is prompt, ongoing treatment. Interventions like medication, physical therapy, speech therapy, and lifestyle changes can provide a better outlook for your future with the condition.

Physical therapy, in particular, can help you address the physical changes that happen as a result of Parkinson’s disease.

The combination of water and hard surfaces makes the bathroom the most likely room in the house for slip and fall accidents. That combination can create serious fall hazards for seniors in particular, since bones lose strength and density with age, increasing the risk of serious injuries when accidents do occur. Plus, eyesight, balance and coordination issues that affect many of us with aging make such incidents more likely.