Réhabital
Long COVID Rehabilitation
Persistent fatigue, breathlessness with minimal effort, brain fog: long COVID needs a cautious approach that is very different from standard exercise training. Doing too much makes symptoms worse.
Book an AppointmentUnderstanding This Condition
After an infection some people keep months of exercise intolerance, inefficient breathing, palpitations on standing and disproportionate fatigue. The central feature is often post-exertional malaise: symptoms flare 12 to 48 hours after activity that was too intense. That is why rehabilitation starts with energy management rather than exercise progression. A dysfunctional breathing pattern, fast and chest based, is also very common and sustains the breathlessness.
Common Symptoms
Common Causes
Post-exertional malaise
The body reacts poorly to energy expenditure above a low individual threshold.
Dysfunctional breathing
Fast chest breathing reduces gas exchange efficiency and sustains breathlessness.
Dysautonomia
Disturbed cardiovascular regulation causes palpitations and dizziness when upright.
Secondary deconditioning
Prolonged inactivity adds to the initial problem and amplifies fatigue.
Our Treatment Approach
Our starting point is pacing: identifying your effort threshold, breaking activity into segments and preventing crashes rather than reacting to them. We then retrain breathing toward a slow nasal diaphragmatic pattern, with hands-on osteopathic work on the ribs, diaphragm and thoracic spine. Activity progression is cautious and non-linear: we increase only when the following day stays stable. Lying and seated positions are used before standing when orthostatic symptoms are present. Massage therapy and acupuncture can support sleep and muscular pain.
What to Expect at Your First Visit
A multi-month course with spaced sessions and a symptom diary. The pace follows your tolerance, never a fixed calendar.
At-Home Self-Care Tips
- Break activities up and plan rest periods.
- Practise slow nasal breathing several times a day.
- Keep a symptom diary to find your thresholds.
- Avoid maximal efforts and catch-up days.
- Maintain hydration and salt intake if advised.
Prognosis & Recovery Timeline
Progress is slow but generally favourable. The decisive factor is respecting the effort threshold: pushing too fast delays recovery.
When to See Us at Réhabital
Come in if fatigue or breathlessness persists beyond twelve weeks after infection. A prior medical assessment is recommended to rule out other causes.
Why Réhabital Clinic
We use symptom-guided progression rather than a standard training programme, which avoids the relapses that are common in this condition.
Recommended Services for This Condition
Our Core Treatments in Côte Saint-Luc
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Why Choose Réhabital?
Frequently Asked Questions
Address
D4-5800 Cavendish Blvd
Côte Saint-Luc, QC H4W 2T5
Phone
(438) 842-3550Hours
Mon–Fri: 10AM–8PM
Sun: 10AM–4PM
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