CE190: Practice Update for Rehabilitation: Clinical Recognition & Management of Long COVID

Long COVID involves episodic disability related to a whole host of disabling symptoms and signs. The symptoms and signs of Long COVID may create a range of impairments and corresponding deficits in social functioning. Recent studies have started to elucidate the unique multifactorial underlying pathophysiology of Long COVID, which appears to underlie the pattern of disablement. This session will draw from current evidence and practice in Long COVID to discuss pathophysiology and abnormal recovery responses to activity, using perspectives from myalgic encephalomyelitis research to supplement gaps in the Long COVID literature as needed. Based on this information, safe rehabilitation concepts involving pacing and triage for the appropriateness of exercise will be discussed. This session will emphasize specific, actionable recommendations on evaluation and management to help you bring the current knowledge base regarding the pathophysiology of Long COVID to help your patients and clients on your next clinic day.

Date & Time

Asynchronous

Location

Virtual

CEHs

2

Cost

$100 Clinician/$20 Student

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, the attendee will be able to:

  • Analyze a patient’s case for potential abnormalities in autonomic, cardiopulmonary, immune, and metabolic functioning that are associated with Long COVID
  • Discuss the role of prior physical and cognitive activity as a potential aggravating factor to the pathophysiology of Long COVID
  • Discuss the rationale for energy conservation based on an Energy System First Aid approach
  • Identify how to implement models of pacing with patients
  • Design an energy conservation program appropriate for a patient or client living with Long COVID
  • Describe indications and contraindications for exercise and exercise progression in a patient or client living with Long COVID

Speaker

Todd E. Davenport, PT, Ph.D., DPT, MPH, OCS 

Todd serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy in the School of Health Sciences at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California’s DPT and Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residency programs, and he holds his Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Portsmouth (United Kingdom) in Sport, Health and Exercise Science. Dr. Davenport is also a graduate of the Master of Public Health program at the University of California at Berkeley. He is a past clinical research fellow at the Warren G. Magnusson Clinical Center at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, where his work included construction and validation of function-based physical capacity tests for patients with chronic fatiguing illnesses. Dr. Davenport has extended this early work into the identification of optimal rehabilitation programs for people with chronic post-viral fatigue, such as from myalgic encephalomyelitis and Long COVID. He is the current Chair of Long COVID Physio, an international non-profit organization aimed at improving Long COVID education and research, as well as peer support for rehabilitation professionals living with Long COVID.