'Long COVID' Recovery Program Offered At Scotch Plains RWJ Center
SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ — With so many people experiencing "long COVID" months after being diagnosed with the virus, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital is offering a Post-COVID Recovery Program to address the needs of individuals with post-COVID syndrome.
Robert Wood Johnson is offering physical therapy for post-COVID patients at RWJ Fitness and Wellness Center in Scotch Plains, as well as RWJ Hospital in Rahway.
The recovery program involves highly skilled physiatrists, physical, occupation and speech therapists who work with patients to address a wide range of symptoms provided by post-COVID patients.
These longterm symptoms include anything from fatigue, decreased endurance with difficulty breathing to joint pain and problems with sleeping and concentration known as "brain fog."
According to Penn State College of Medicine researchers, more than half of 236 million people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 worldwide since Dec. 2019 will experience post-COVID symptoms, or long COVID, up to six months after recovering.
The mechanisms by which COVID-19 causes lingering symptoms in survivors are still not fully understood, according the Penn State study.
"These symptoms could result from immune-system overdrive triggered by the virus, lingering infection, reinfection or an increased production of autoantibodies (antibodies directed at their own tissues). The SARS-CoV-2 virus, the agent that causes COVID-19, can access, enter and live in the nervous system. As a result, nervous system symptoms such as taste or smell disorders, memory impairment and decreased attention and concentration commonly occur in survivors."
A condition called parosmia is an example of common longterm symptom for COVID-recovered patients. This is a type of smell disorder in which odors become distorted. For example, something that once smelled pleasant may smell bad or rotten to a person with parosmia.
Parosmia can also have a negative impact on taste and eating because smell and taste are closely link. Certain foods can become unpalatable for someone with parosmia.
With its recovery program, RWJ addresses strength balance, endurance, breathing techniques, activity pacing, posture, functional mobility, stiffness and joint pain among other impairments.
Nora Grillo, the Director of Rehabilitation Services at RWJ Hospital, said RWJ utilizes "the rate of perceived exertion" as a tool to monitor shortness of breath as well as pulse oximetry.
Within the Rahway hospital, Grillo said RWJ offers speech therapy for cognitive dysfunction or swallowing issues.
However, for persistent taste and smell limitations, Grillo suggested seeking an Ears, Nose and Throat doctor.
Occupational therapy is also available for difficulties with daily tasks, such as toileting, bathing, dressing and managing within the home. In addition, RWJ's cardiopulmonary team offers pulmonary rehab as well as sleep studies for problems sleeping.
"While it is still yet to be seen if long-COVID will affect those who have contracted COVID-19 during this most recent surge, we have learned that early intervention, addressing all symptoms through a unique and interdisciplinary approach will lead to a much better outcome,” Paul Abend, Physiatrist and Medical Director of Rehabilitation Services at RWJ said.
RWJUH Rahway’s Post-COVID Recovery Program requires a prescription and an initial evaluation to custom design a plan of care. For more information and to make an appointment, call (732) 499-6012.
RWJBarnabas Health is spread across 11 acute care hospitals in New Jersey – Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville, Community Medical Center in Toms River, Jersey City Medical Center in Jersey City, Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset in Somerville, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton in Hamilton, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway in Rahway and Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston.
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This article originally appeared on the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Patch
