World Physiotherapy Day September 8 - Team develop innovative program to rehabilitate Long COVID patients.

In celebration of World Physiotherapy Day, September 8, the PHN explored this year’s theme ‘Rehabilitation and Long COVID - how to take part’ discovering an innovative, multidisciplinary Long COVID rehabilitation program established by ATUNE Health Centres.

During regular integrated meetings, the multidisciplinary team at ATUNE Health Centres noted they were having more conversations about their patients experiencing Long COVID. Simon Ashley, Osteopath and Chief Executive Officer at ATUNE Health Centres, said these conversations led to the team exploring the complexities of Long COVID and the rehabilitation pathways.

“One of the first things we noticed was that the average person wasn’t knowledgeable about Long COVID and there weren’t any tools available to help them assess if they were experiencing the condition. So, our first step was to develop an assessment tool, the Post-acute Sequelae of COVID-19 score (PASC score), developed from recent US government-backed research. Being a grey area, our aim was to give people something reliable and easy to use.”

Following the above-mentioned assessments and ongoing research, ATUNE Health Centres launched their Long COVID rehabilitation program in April this year. The program comprises an in-clinic consultation with one of the team’s Thermal Therapists/Physiotherapists performing further tests. One of ATUNE’s GPs reviews these results with the patient, performs the further Yorkshire Rehabilitation Scale, then designs an individualised treatment pathway.

“Once assessed, patients are provided a rehabilitation program suited to their needs. So far, most access a range of prehab therapies including breathing therapy, thermotherapy, naturopathy and Perrin osteopathy, before starting a program with one of our Exercise Physiologists or Physiotherapists,” said Simon.

Bruce Thompson, Thermal Therapist at ATUNE Health Centres believes early rehabilitation is key to progress in Long COVID Rehabilitation.

“From our work with other post-viral and chronic fatigue conditions we found that patients who had rehab therapy during the first two or three years after onset usually reported significant improvements similar to what we are seeing with our Long COVID patients. We are presently in that window of opportunity for Long COVID patients.”

Patients wishing to access the Long COVID rehabilitation program should contact ATUNE Health Centres.

Congratulations to the team at ATUNE Health Centres on the development and success of their Long COVID rehabilitation program.

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