COVID-19: Practice based resources

Covering acute care, infection prevention and control, MSK, guidelines, education on COVID management, digital/telehealth and private practice.

On this page:

 

Guidelines

Second version published December 2021 

This version of Physiotherapy management for COVID-19 in the acute hospital setting and beyond: an update to clinical practice recommendations was published in December 2021. It is an update to the first version of the guideline and is produced by the same team. It has again been endorsed by World Physiotherapy and others. The paper is published online by the Journal of Physiotherapy.

First version

First published in March 2020, Physiotherapy management for COVID-19 in the acute hospital setting was produced by an international team of expert researchers and clinicians in the intensive care and acute cardiorespiratory fields, endorsed by World Physiotherapy and others. The paper is also published online by the Journal of Physiotherapy. [UPDATED - see link above]

This version of the guideline is available in:

Further translations are being produced. Anyone wishing to support translations in other languages should contact [email protected]

Listen to a podcast with Peter Thomas, consultant physiotherapist from Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Australia and lead author of the guideline.

The Royal Dutch Society for Physical Therapy (KNGF) has produced general recommendations on physiotherapy care in patients with COVID-19 after hospital discharge and patients who experienced COVID-19 illness at home.

Practice resources

World Physiotherapy Europe Region

Webinar: From ICU to long COVID: Physiotherapy for patients with COVID-19 infection recording from 28 April 2021

PhysioPedia
A number of courses are available:

PhysioPedia also has information about:

Report of an ad-hoc international task force of the European Respiratory Society to develop an expert-based opinion on early and short-term rehabilitative interventions (after the acute hospital setting) in COVID-19 survivors This is a living document and input from others is welcomed. Use the ERS blog to share experiences with the authors via the link above. The team aim to provide an update of the report at least once every two weeks and more frequently if needed. The document will result in a guidance for clinicians who want to provide rehabilitative interventions to COVID-19 survivors.

International Association of Physical Therapists working with Older People (IPTOP) are collating Resources for exercise and physical activity.

International Organisation of Aquatic Physical Therapists (IOAPT)statement about COVID-19 and the practice of aquatic physiotherapy (PDF) with recommendations and interview: Reflections on providing physiotherapy services during a pandemic(PDF) at the Sheba Medical Centre Hydrotherapy Service in Israel.

International Physical Therapists for HIV/AIDS, Oncology, Hospice and Palliative Care (IPT-HOPE)

Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists guides for treating:

Scientific Council of Medical Continuing Education:  Physical rehabilitation after pneumonia associated with coronavirus infection in Russian

NCD Alliance has  a resource centre collating and directing to resources in support of the population with NCDs, a vulnerable group for COVID-19.

Cochrane:  Special Collection: Coronavirus (2019-nCoV): evidence relevant to critical care available in Simplified Chinese, English, Farsi, French, Japanese, Malay, and Spanish. Further translations are planned.

ONCALLbuddy  app for physiotherapists working respiratory on-call. Advice on assessment, treatment and more.

Haitian Physiotherapy Society:  guidelines for physiotherapists providing care in hospital, clinics, and in the community. 

Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (UK): section on practice resources including, respiratory practice, face-to-face remote consultations, contact with patients, helping patients to stay active, and discharge support.

NHS Chain (UK): subgroup resources on long Covid

American Physical Therapy Association (US): physical therapist management of patients with diagnosed or suspected COVID-19

WHO: COVID-19 Clinical management: living guidance, 25 January 2021

Digital physiotherapy and telehealth

World Physiotherapy and INPTRA report on digital physical therapy practice to help physiotherapists work effectively and appropriately online. Also available in:

University of Melbourne

INPTRA webinar on Telehealth Clinical Education Considerations. More details.

International Private Physical Therapy Association (IPPTA) has conducted a survey of its member organisations about telehealth and has shared the results.

PEDro list of systematic reviews published in the last five years that evaluate the effects of tele-physiotherapy.

Physiopedia

Telehealth Toolbox guide on How to use telehealth to care for your patients during COVID-19

Centre for

Health: 'Health' is defined in the WHO constitution of 1948 as a state of complete physical, social and mental well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

See also Health promotion

See full list of glossary terms

, Exercise & Sports Medicine, University of Melbourne,

Australian Physiotherapy Association advice on telehealth and telehealth guidelines response to COVID-19

Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (UK) advice on remote digital solutions

Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists: policy on ehealth for physiotherapists
 
Cochrane: special collection on remote care through telehealth

American Physical Therapy Association (US) advice on telehealth and Facebook live recording on Implementing Telehealth in Your Practice STAT: Practical Guidance from Experienced Telehealth PTs.

Infection prevention and control

WHO: advice on infection prevention and control

NHS (UK): useful reference videos on Putting on personal protective equipment (PPE)  and Taking off personal protective equipment (PPE)

Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (UK): advice on personal protective equipment (PPE)

American Physical Therapy Association (US): blog on best practice in infection prevention

Pan American Health Organization (PAHO): informative video on using personal protective equipment (PPE)

World Health Professions Alliance: press release calling governments to prioritise support for healthcare workers in the front line against coronavirus and especially provision of PPE.

Cochrane: Special Collection: Coronavirus (COVID-19): infection control and prevention measures available in Simplified Chinese, Farsi, English, French, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish.

Practice management

As lockdown restrictions are changed in different countries how they are responding to the gradual opening up of services and new working arrangements may be of interest to others. Please check regularly with national organisations.

The Spanish Association of Physiotherapists’ (AEF) primary care and community

Health: 'Health' is defined in the WHO constitution of 1948 as a state of complete physical, social and mental well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

See also Health promotion

See full list of glossary terms

subgroup has developed Reordenación de la actividad de fisioterapia en atención primaria, which describes how to re-schedule activities to treat patients at primary care and community level.

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) in the UK has updated its guidance for private practices and independent clinics in response to changing government guidance 13 May 2020.

Continuing professional development

Physiopedia has produced four free courses covering COVID-19, infection prevention and control, the role of physiotherapy and respiratory management of people with COVID-19. Physiopedia free online programme of COVID-19 courses

WHO’s online courses relevant to COVID-19 are available in a range of languages.

FutureLearn has a course on COVID developed by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, a world leader in research and postgraduate education in public and global health. They are offering free access to the course for its duration plus 14 days, regardless of when you join their platform.

 

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