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Welcome to Covid Physical Therapy
Categories: Start Here, Introductions
People who have survived the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, may have spent many days or weeks in the hospital or have been bedridden at home. They may have other complications from the virus that are making it hard to return to normal life.
Introduction to Standing Exercises
Categories: Standing, Introductions
Exercise is an important part of COVID-19 recovery in order to regain your strength, endurance, flexibility, and ability to fully take part in all aspects of your daily life.
Supine Absolute Basics – "The Bare Minimum"
Categories: Start Here, Supine, Exercise
Some of the absolute basic exercises that should be performed if you are bed-bound include ankle pumps, heel slides and rolling from side to side to change position. Doing these exercises regularly several times a day will help from developing blood clots, pressure ulcers or bedsores, and contractures (shortened, tight muscles).
Supine Belly Breathing
Categories: Start Here, Breathing, Supine, Exercise
Stress and illness can affect how we breathe, impacting our digestion, cardiac and pulmonary function, nervous system and overall health. Luckily, we can control how and where we breathe in our bodies to change this.
Getting Out of Bed (Supine Log Roll)
Categories: Start Here, Supine, How To, Exercise
The 'log roll' is a simple technique to make it easier to get in and out of bed, and is useful for those who have back pain or decreased balance and strength.
Sit-to-Stand
Categories: Start Here, Seated, Standing, How To, Exercise
This highly practical and functional exercise strengthens the muscles we need to be able to safely get in and out of chairs, stand up from bed and get on and off the toilet.
Seated Stacked Breathing
Categories: Start Here, Breathing, Seated, Exercise
Stacked breathing is a technique to increase the size of the breath you are able take in. It can also improve the strength of your voice and your cough, so you can better clear out the lungs, as well as your lung flexibility.
Seated Pursed Lip Breathing
Categories: Start Here, Breathing, Seated, Exercise
Pursed lip breathing is a technique that makes breathing easier and more effective and can resolve shortness of breath caused by exercise or increased activity.
Dr. Jessica Larsen
Category: Expert Interviews
Clinical psychologist Dr. Jessica Larsen discusses COVID-related stress and trauma and when and how to get the help you need.
Dr. Phillip Mirian
Category: Expert Interviews
Frontline physical therapist Dr. Phillip Mirian speaks about treating COVID-19 patients, and what to do once you are back home.
Seated Back Stretch
This back stretch helps mobilize along the whole length of the spine. It is a seated version of the 'cat/cow' yoga pose.
Seated "Figure Four" Hip Stretch
This stretch can help loosen up muscles in the hip that get tight from sitting for a long time.
Seated Posture
Improving posture can make breathing easier, help with back and neck pain, enhance our digestion, reduce heartburn and decrease seated stress incontinence.
Side-Lying Abductor Strengthening
Categories: Sidelying, Exercise
Strengthening the muscles on the outside of the hips, also known as our hip abductor muscles, keeps us steadier on our feet, and more stable when walking or standing on one leg, like when using stairs.
Standing Basic Balancing Exercises
Categories: Start Here, Standing, Exercise
Improving our balance makes us more stable while walking and using stairs and decreases our risk of falls and injury. It is an important component of recovery after extended illness and hospitalization.
Standing Calf Raises & Marching
Categories: Start Here, Standing, Exercise
These exercises improves blood flow, strength and stability in the lower legs and make activities like climbing stairs and stepping over objects easier.
Standing Posture
Categories: Standing, Exercise
Improving posture can make breathing easier, help with back and neck pain, enhance our digestion and improve pelvic floor function.
Standing Supported Squats
Categories: Standing, Exercise
Squats are a very useful exercise to make it easier to get up from a chair, off the toilet and out of bed. If this is difficult, try the sit-to-stand variation first or the wall squat variation.
Standing Wall Squats
Categories: Standing, Exercise
Squats are a very useful exercise to make it easier to get up from a chair, off the toilet and out of bed. If this is difficult, try the sit-to-stand variation first or if too easy, do the supported squat variation instead. It can also be helpful if you have one-sided weakness, like after a stroke.
Supine Neck Mobility & Stretches
Learn movements and stretches to keep the muscles the neck and upper back flexible, which can help resolve headaches, muscle pain, stiffness, and improve your posture.