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Addressing long-term effects associated with COVID-19

Inpatient rehabilitation can play an important role in the recovery of individuals who have been hospitalized with COVID-19. Long-term effects of the disease can be similar to those of a traumatic brain injury or critical illness/injury.

According to the Journal of Rehabilitation Management, about 20 percent of patients recovering from COVID-19 require rehabilitation. Patients with extended ICU stays that have been on ventilators may lose up to 9 percent of muscle mass after 3 days, and 25 percent of muscle mass after 10 days.

Specialized rehabilitative care can help patient return to previous physical and cognitive abilities by addressing long-term effects associated with COVID-19, such as:

• Muscle fatigue, weakness, and damage
• Fine motor skills
• Cognitive impairments, including memory, attention, reasoning, and problem-solving impairments
• Impulsiveness and agitation
• Decreased respiratory function
• Complications such as septic shock, myopathy, neuropathy, and/or acute respiratory distress syndrome

Benefits of inpatient rehabilitation include:

• Physical, occupational, and/or speech therapy a minimum of 15 hours a week
• 24-hour rehabilitation nursing care
• On-site respiratory care
• Consistent intervention assessments