Sequelae of COVID-19 and the need for Post-COVID Rehabilitation

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The COVID-19 pandemic is defining for our generation. The pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on every aspect of our lives. It has not only affected patients, particularly those from marginalized communities, highlighting healthcare disparities, but has also had long lasting effects on the healthcare workforce for generations to come.

One area that has emerged as a significant concern is the growing number of persons who are acquiring new disabilities and therefore there is a need for care from a multidisciplinary team, inclusive of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation specialists to address those needs throughout the healthcare continuum.

This edition of PM&R Clinics explores the various ways in which the pandemic has led to the emergence of new disabilities and how these challenges have been addressed by physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists and their colleagues via post-COVID rehabilitation. We address the impacts of SARS-CoV-2 infection on a person’s health in this edition of PM&R Clinics. These impacts range from acute tissue damage and critical illness polyneuromyopathy in hospitalized patients to the development of Long COVID or post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) in individuals with mild disease. The pandemic also disrupted healthcare services and rehabilitation programs, often making it more difficult for patients to access healthcare, and this will be addressed as well. The pandemic also showed us the need for prehabilitation services, and this is also discussed.

A comprehensive understanding of the impact of COVID-19 on individuals who are acquiring new disabilities and have a need for post-COVID rehabilitation is provided by a series of expert authors who have delivered quality care on the front lines, in clinics, and rehabilitation centers. Long COVID, thought to impact 10 to 20 percent of those who had COVID-19, will be the defining illness of our generation. This series offers guidance and recommendations for healthcare professionals to care for persons who may have new challenges and disabilities due to PASC, and ensure they patients have the necessary support and resources to adapt and thrive. Figure thumbnail fx1