Beyond the Clinic: Virtual Care as the Future of Long COVID Rehabilitation, 2025, Anderson et Bauer

[Yann04]

Abstract:

Background and Purpose:

As a result of COVID-19 infection, millions of individuals are now affected by Long COVID, and this number continues to increase. These individuals experience a multitude of symptoms and limitations that make accessing conventional rehabilitative care challenging. The traditional model of in-person physical therapy presents unique challenges for these individuals. Providing physical therapy virtually allows more individuals with Long COVID to receive physical therapy who otherwise would not be able to tolerate it or have access. The purpose of this paper is to outline the case for virtual care to become the preferred option for rehabilitation of individuals with Long COVID.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE

Given the logistical challenges to in-person care and the unique needs of this population, virtual care should be the preferred delivery model for those with Long COVID receiving physical therapy. Utilizing virtual care will allow for improved access, participation, and outcomes for individuals with Long COVID, while simultaneously allowing physical therapists to bill for their skilled interventions.

CLINICAL PEARLS

• Virtual care delivery via telehealth and remote therapeutic monitoring increases access to high-quality care for individuals with Long COVID.
• Individuals with Long COVID may experience improved outcomes when their rehabilitative care can be completed via virtual or hybrid delivery models due to having more guidance between sessions and a lower risk of triggering postexertional malaise.
• Physical therapists can safely and effectively provide rehabilitative interventions for individuals with Long COVID in a fully virtual or hybrid care setting. Telehealth and remote therapeutic monitoring allow the physical therapist to also bill for these skilled interventions.

LINK

 

[Yann04]

Despite efforts to increase awareness, we see ongoing anecdotal evidence that clinicians are struggling to provide knowledgeable, effective, and safe care to the influx of individuals with Long COVID and PEM. Consequently, they might operate under the assumption that the individual is experiencing physical deconditioning and inappropriately prescribe exercise. This can be dangerous and cause further physiological damage if PEM is triggered, as evidenced by Appelman et al.40 The setback from PEM and increased severity of symptoms can last for days, weeks, or even months before returning to the baseline level of function from before the triggering event.41,42

They get it!

> Go on to recommend exercise anyways…

*Facepalm*

 

[rvallee]

This is entirely centered on their perspective. They don't consider the fact that rehabilitation is not actually useful here, just that this is their job and they feel they should do it. Even it obviously makes zero difference and completely ignores the problem in favor of trying to find whatever in their toolkit can fit somewhere.

It's baffling that this industry doesn't seem to care one bit about doing useless things. Just brain dead wishcare nonsense.