Long Covid Recovery & Rehabilitation Clinic

What is Long Covid?

From the 2024 NASEM Long COVID Definition- “Long Covid (LC) is an infection-association chronic condition (IACC) that occurs after SARS-CoV-2 infection and is present for at least 3 months as a continuous, relapsing and remitting, or progressive disease state that affects on or more organ systems.”

Long Covid can affect so many different systems in the body and does not affect any person the same as another. There are many different forms of Long Covid that all require a different set of interventions to help each patient individually.

Some of the common issues that can occur with Long Covid are:
-ME/CFS- Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome
-POTS- Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome
-Dysautonomia
-Hypermobility Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

Typical symptoms of Long Covid are fatigue, shortness of breath, cognitive fatigue, brain fog, joint and muscle pains, chest pain and many others.

What is PEM?

PEM, or Post Exertional Malaise, is one of the defining symptoms of Long Covid. It can be a debilitating symptom for a lot of long haulers. It is the disproportionate and prolonged increase in symptoms following an activity (physical, cognitive, emotional or spiritual). Symptoms, typically fatigue, but others as well, increase 24 or more hours after said activity and can last hours, days or even weeks later. The activity and the symptom increase do not seem to be correlated and are not a normal increase in comparison to the exertion.

What is Pacing and Planning?

Pacing and planning is what can help patients with long covid to manage their symptoms the most. Each patient has a different level of energy that they can do in a day and pacing is how you can get to the end of the day without using all this energy allotment. Long haulers need to work on planning their days and weeks to ensure that they are not using too much energy. Taking breaks when doing things throughout their day is key. It could be taking a break after taking a few steps to the bathroom to taking a breaks after going for a walk outside, or even exercising (when done under supervision by a medical professional trained to deal with patients with PEM). 

What can Collegiate do for you?

Our program was developed by a fellow long hauler, Athletic Therapist Rebecca Henderson. Over her own rehab she has learned many tools to help herself and others. Alongside her own journey she has been taking courses, attending webinars and conferences to learn as much as possible to help others in a similar scenario to her. Her goal is to help patients with Long Covid learn to get back to what they want to do. If you are looking for support on how to manage any of your symptoms, then give us a call (403) 791-2766 or go online to book in. We can help patients across Canada through virtual care or in person in the Olds area. It may be covered under some private health insurance plans, check for Athletic Therapy coverage.