What is Long Covid-19?
The NHS describe long covid as:
an informal term that is commonly used to describe signs and symptoms that continue or develop after an acute infection of COVID. Depending on how long you have ongoing symptoms for, it can be called one of 2 things:
- Ongoing symptomatic COVID
This is where your symptoms continue for more than 4 weeks. If your symptoms last for longer than 12 weeks, it will then be called;- Post-COVID Syndrome
This is where your ongoing symptoms continue for longer than 12 weeks and cannot be explained by any other condition.
Returning to Physical Activity
During your recovery from Covid-19, you may feel more tired and breathless than normal, and day to day activities may seem like hard work. The NHS have developed the 3 P's principle to guide you towards returning to your normal daily routine, including physical activity.
Pace
- It's ok to take things slow! Don't rush into your normal routine too quickly, make sure to manage your expectations of what you may be able to do.
- Break activities into smaller tasks, and always make time to rest.
Plan
- Spread your normal activities across the week, with time for resting in between the most tiring activities.
- Try to avoid activities which make you feel the most tired in the earlier stages of your recovery and adapt activities to make them less tiring if you can.
Prioritise
- Some tasks are necessary, others aren't. Some you can stop doing or do less often, or ask for help until you're feeling better.
Resources
Bed Exercise Programme (PDF, 411 Kb)
Standing Exercise Programme (PDF, 570 Kb)
COVID Recovery Workbook (PDF, 130 Kb)
Covid Recovery and Swimming (PDF, 498 Kb)
