Manage long COVID symptoms with occupational therapy
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, healthcare providers have faced a unique challenge: helping people manage the lingering effects of COVID-19, commonly known as long COVID or post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC). People with long COVID can experience symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, joint and muscle pain, shortness of breath, and difficulty sleeping, sometimes for months or even years after their initial infection. If you are struggling with these prolonged symptoms, occupational therapy can be an essential support for helping you regain function, energy, and quality of life.
Your occupational therapist (OT) specializes in helping you participate in the activities you need or want to do in daily life, known as “occupations.” This could mean anything from work and school to leisure and self-care. Because long COVID symptoms often disrupt daily life on multiple levels, your OT is uniquely equipped to help you address your individual needs and develop strategies to overcome or manage these limitations.
Here’s how occupational therapy can make a difference for those experiencing long COVID:
Addressing fatigue and energy conservation
One of the most common and debilitating symptoms of long COVID is persistent fatigue, often described as “crushing” or “debilitating” by those who experience it. This type of fatigue is more than just tiredness; it often doesn’t improve with rest and can be triggered or worsened by physical or mental exertion, a phenomenon known as post-exertional malaise (PEM). For people with long COVID, this can make even simple daily tasks feel insurmountable.
Your OT can work with you to develop personalized energy conservation techniques. These might include:
“Pacing” activities throughout the day
Identifying priority tasks
Setting realistic limits to prevent overexertion
Your OT can also teach you to apply the “4 P’s” approach (Prioritize, Plan, Pace, and Position) to daily tasks to avoid draining energy reserves. For example, sitting instead of standing while cooking, or breaking down tasks into smaller, manageable steps can help conserve energy.
Managing cognitive symptoms like brain fog
“Brain fog,” or cognitive impairment, is another common symptom of long COVID. You may experience memory lapses, difficulty concentrating, trouble finding words, or slowed mental processing. These cognitive issues can make work, school, and even social interactions challenging, leading to frustration and reduced quality of life.
Your OT can teach you cognitive strategies to improve focus, memory, and executive functioning. These strategies might include:
Using checklists
Setting reminders
Creating structured routines
Practicing techniques to manage distractions
Cognitive rehabilitation exercises, such as memory games or attention tasks, can also help strengthen mental stamina over time. By developing strategies to work around cognitive symptoms, your OT empowers you to regain a sense of independence and control in your daily lives.
Improving physical function and mobility
If you live with long COVID, you may experience muscle weakness, joint pain, and reduced physical endurance, which can impact mobility and physical function. This can be particularly challenging if you were previously active and are now struggling to perform even basic activities like climbing stairs or walking short distances.
Your OT can guide you in gradually rebuilding physical strength and endurance in a safe and manageable way. They may introduce gentle exercises to improve mobility, stretching routines for flexibility, or targeted movements to support muscle recovery. Importantly, your OT helps you understand how to balance activity with adequate rest to avoid overexertion, which can be crucial for individuals with post-exertional malaise. This gradual approach can support you in regaining physical function without exacerbating symptoms.
Adapting home and work environments
If you live with long COVID, returning to a previous level of function in your home or workplace may feel daunting. Your OT is skilled in assessing and modifying environments to make activities more accessible. This could involve:
Reorganizing a workspace to reduce unnecessary movements
Adjusting lighting to reduce eye strain
Setting up ergonomic workstations that minimize physical stress
In some cases, you may need assistive devices, such as grab bars, shower chairs, or lightweight cookware, to make daily activities less physically demanding. Your OT can recommend and teach you how to use these devices effectively, helping you to regain a sense of autonomy and confidence in managing your environment.
Supporting mental health and the nervous system
Living with long COVID can take a toll on your mental health and cause nervous system dysregulation. Dealing with persistent symptoms, reduced mobility, and cognitive challenges can lead to feelings of frustration, anxiety, and depression. Your OT is trained to consider the emotional and psychological aspects of rehabilitation, helping you manage your mental health as you work through the physical challenges of long COVID.
Through techniques like mindfulness, relaxation exercises, and stress management, your OT can help you build resilience and coping skills. Some OTs are also trained in nervous system regulation techniques that can contribute to overall health. Many OTs also provide or recommend goal-setting exercises, helping you identify realistic, meaningful goals that can provide motivation and a sense of accomplishment. This holistic approach to health supports you on your recovery journey, promoting a positive mindset and improved quality of life.
Occupational therapy offers you comprehensive support for dealing with the persistent symptoms of long COVID, helping you navigate challenges and restore your ability to participate in everyday life.
By addressing your unique needs, OTs play a transformative role in your recovery journey, empowering you to manage your symptoms, build resilience, and reclaim independence. For those affected by long COVID, occupational therapy provides not only practical solutions but also hope—a path forward to a fuller, more functional life.
The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) provides a searchable national directory of occupational therapists for all Canadians to find the occupational therapy services they need. You can search for an OT who can provide Long COVID support.