COVID-19 and post-COVID Lungs/Pulmonary Physiotherapy Rehabilitation

How does the Covid 19 affect your lungs:

When the Covid 19- virus enters the body through the airways, the virus (SARS-CoV-2) binds to a specific receptor on lung cells called the ACE2 receptor (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2). The presence of ACE2 throughout the body marks the tissues vulnerable to infection. Once inside, the virus hijacks the cell’s machinery, making countless copies of itself and invading new cells. If the immune system does not counteract SARS-CoV-2 during this initial phase, the virus travels down the trachea to attack the lungs, where it can become fatal.

The thinnest and most distant branches of the respiratory tree of the lung end in small air sacs called alveoli, which are form by a single layer of cells that are also rich in ACE2 receptors. Normally, oxygen crosses the alveoli into the capillaries (small blood vessels next to the air sacs), where oxygen is transported to the rest of the body. But as the immune system struggles with the invader, oxygen transfer is affected. Frontline white blood cells release inflammatory molecules called chemokines, which in turn summon more immune cells that attack and kill virus-infected cells, leaving a stew of fluid and dead, pus cells behind. This is the underlying pathology of pneumonia, with its corresponding symptoms: cough; fever; and rapid, shallow breathing. Some patients with COVID-19 recover, but others deteriorate, developing a condition called Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). Blood oxygen levels drop, and they struggle more and more to breathe, requiring the use of ventilators.

How do we treat pneumonia and chest infection due to Covid19 (coronavirus)?

Pulmonary Rehabilitation to optimize lung capacity and function:

• We first need to check if your lungs are free from mucus and fluid. This will be determined by auscultation of your lungs. If there is still fluid or mucus, we will use our French chest Physiotherapy technique to remove and make you cough all the mucus that could still be in your lungs.
• We will then reinforce your diaphragm with specific breathing exercises and resistance.
• We will increase your lung capacity by training your breathing accessory muscles and use stretching exercise and mobilization of the thoracic and cervical spine to make your rib cage more flexible to bring more oxygen in.
• We will teach you specific breathing patterns along with abdominal breathing.
• And finally, we will work on your breathing resistance to finalize your lung rehabilitation and allow you to go back to your usual sports or daily activities

With regular breathing exercises aimed to strengthen respiratory muscles like the diaphragm, intercostals, etc, and relax Respiratory Accessory muscles and Chest Physiotherapy includes specific techniques to remove and mobilize secretions of the Lungs to gain success of your recovery is assured.

For the same u can contact and book your Home Care Physiotherapy appointment, simply contact us, give our expert therapists a call on + (91) 98997-53717, + (91)9958715004, or email us at contact@kvphysiotherapy.com or have a visit to our Kevaline Physiotherapy and Osteopathy Clinic in Delhi & NCR.