When it comes to working with COVID long haulers, there are so many questions and conflicting answers…

• How hard should you push these patients?
• Which evals and special tests are most effective for this population?
• You’re treating them for another diagnosis…but they had COVID…how do you modify your plan of care?
• How do you treat functional limitations stemming from COVID-19?

Answer these and so much more in this action-packed training that breaks down how long COVID impacts nearly every system in the body.

Featuring content experts Dr. Karen Pryor, PhD, PT, DPT, and Shelly Denes, PT, this dynamic duo brings a wealth of knowledge from extensive clinical practice in nearly every setting. They will build a solid foundation and offer clinical pearls from their combined 70+ years of experience with whole-patient solutions to:

• Perform a thorough evaluation for a patient with respect to Long COVID to identify functional limitations and deficits
• Conduct a head-to-toe neurologic assessment
• Assess contributions from related organ systems
• Construct an evidence-based plan of care to address symptoms: brain fog, fatigue, pain, neuropathy, myalgias and sleep disorders
• Implement whole-body solutions for accelerated healing: anti-inflammatory diet, mindfulness, diaphragmatic breathing
• Walk away with dozens of tips sheets: fall prevention, autonomic checklist, depression screen, home exercise program and more!

Whether you work in acute care, rehab or outpatient – uncover strategies to meet the unique needs of your patients as you give them hope for recovery and healing.

Objectives

1. Examine challenges of Post-COVID patients and their impact on function.
2. Describe presentations of initial referral with multisystem effects.
3. Explain full neurological assessment as it relates to present diagnosis and multisensory and autonomic symptoms.
4. Construct a screening tool for lingering effects of COVID-19 and address solutions for these problems to enhance performance of ADLs and other tasks.
5. Understand how to make a tip sheet for patients specific to their needs.
6. Investigate the latest available treatments for the management of COVID-19, including the vaccines to prevent COVID-19 for the outpatient setting and individuals at home.
7. Construct an evidence-based toolkit for neurological, musculoskeletal and organ system challenges for outpatient symptom management.
8. Instruct the significance of sleep/rest in rehabilitation post SARS-CoV-2 infection.
9. Assess for symptoms of the immune response in COVID-19 ‘Long Haulers’ and how to address these changes.
10. Investigate the significance of the inflammatory response in COVID-19 and how to address these changes in patients.
11. Differentiate cytokine storms and how it relates to multi-organ failure and coagulation.
12. Investigate post-viral autonomic dysregulation and how to rewire with neuroplasticity techniques for enhanced function.
13. Appraise, accommodate, and treat rehabilitation challenges such as brain fog with poor memory of home program, tachycardia, POTS, and immune system challenges to improve client participation in activities and treatment.
14. Analyze symptoms of autonomic system dysfunction including night sweats, temperature dysregulation, gastroparesis, and peripheral vasoconstriction and their impact on function.
15. Appraise anxiety levels and discuss changes in the emotional environment of the COVID-19 patient to promote mental and emotional health improvements.
16. Describe how to boost the immune system and decrease inflammation for symptom and condition management.

Outline

• SAR-Co-V2 and COVID-19  
  • SAR-CoV-2 VIRUS DEFINITION and DETAILS  
  • COVID-19 DISEASE and ‘LONG HAULERS’  
  • The huge impact on the body’s:   
    • AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM  
    • SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM  
    • THE IMMUNE SYSTEM  
      • Innate immune response 
      • Adaptive immune response 
      • Cytokine Storm 
      • Gender differences in immunity 
• The COVID ‘Long Hauler’   
  • Pre-existing diseases and their impact on COVID-19    
    • Hyperglycemia / DM 
    • Obesity 
    • Lingering viral disease 
    • Hypertension 
    • Underlying Auto-immune disease 
  • History of Covid Symptoms  
  • Exposure  
  • Poor Nutrition and/or Diet with High Processed Foods  
• Pathology of illness and course in hospital    
  • ICU  
  • Respirator  
  • Feeding – IV, Feeding tube  
• Comprehensive Evaluation with emphasis on the Neuro Screen   
  • Neuro   
    • Damage to CNS  
    • Damage and Symptoms of ANS  
    • Homeostasis?  
  • CNS   
    • Blood Brain Barrier  
    • Stroke  
    • Headaches  
    • Tremors  
  • Cranial nerves   
    • Visual tracking  
    • Hearing  
    • Swallowing  
    • Chewing  
    • Vagus nerve  
    • Tremors  
    • Balance  
    • Dizziness – Vertigo  
  • Peripheral nerves   
    • Numbness – peripheral neuropathy  
    • Tingling  
    • Weakness  
  • Strength   
    • Functional movements  
    • Balance – sitting, standing, walking  
    • Gait disturbances  
    • Post exertional malaise  
    • Reaction to heat  
    • Myalgias  
  • Pain   
    • Location  
    • Central  
    • Peripheral  
  • Brain fog   
    • Extreme fatigue  
    • Poor focus  
    • Difficulty reading  
    • Sleep disturbances  
• Related Organ Systems   
  • Psychology Related   
    • Depression  
    • Anxiety & Reducing Stressors  
    • PTSD  
  • Respiratory   
    • Dyspnea  
    • SOBOE  
    • Chest pain  
    • Cough  
    • ‘Happy Hypoxia’  
    • Use of a Pulse Ox  
    • Proning  
    • Breath Control / Nasal Breathing  
  • Cardiac   
    • Chest Pain  
    • Myocarditis  
    • Palpitations  
    • Evaluating HR (Apple Watch / EKG Monitor)  
  • Vascular   
    • The Inflammation Response  
    • Coagulopathy  
  • G-I Tract   
    • Bowel and Bladder Issues  
    • Sore Throat  
    • Nausea  
    • Non-inflammatory Foods  
  • Liver, Kidney, Spleen, Pancreas  
• Persistent Symptoms after the active Covid phase and what can we as health care providers do about it?    
  • SOBOE  
  • Nerve Pain  
  • Myalgias  
  • Nerve Pain  
  • Anxiety  
  • Extreme Fatigue and Post-Exertional Fatigue   
    • AVOID EXHAUSTION AT ALL COSTS  
    • ‘Energy Envelope’  
  • Brain Fog  
  • Sleeping Disorders   
    • Foundation on the importance of sleep  
    • Healthy Circadian Rhythms   
    • Recommendations with COVID-19 ‘Long Haulers’  
• POTS & Dysautonomia in Long Haulers   
  • What it is   
  • “Hitting the Wall”  
  • How to deal with it  
  • Scenarios for this continuum  
• Bouncing Back from COVID-19 as a ‘Long Hauler’   
  • Beginning Phase  
  • Building Phase  
  • Being Phase  
  • Exercise Prescription  
  • Recovery is slow and variable  
  • Reduce inflammation  
• Ramifications of the Variants   
• Case Scenarios & Appropriate Screening Tools  
• Key Takeaways   
  • Proning  
  • Enough Sleep and REST  
  • Correcting Sleep-Wake Cycles 
  • Resetting the Circadian Rhythms   
  • Hydration  
  • Anti-inflammatory Diet  
  • Lower Anxiety Levels / Mindfulness  
  • Breath Control / Nasal Breathing / Multi-Dimensional Breathing  
  • Compression Socks  
  • Stay on the cool side  
  • Avoid Fatigue / Avoid “Hitting The Wall”

Target Audience

• Physical Therapists
• Physical Therapy Assistants
• Occupational Therapists
• Occupational Therapy Assistants
• Other Rehab Professionals