The APA has called on the Victorian government to improve access to physiotherapy for recovery of long COVID in response to the new COVID wave.

Scott Willis, APA President, says long wait times, fragmented services and affordability factors significantly impact access to essential care for high-priority groups.

“A key opportunity to tackle this, lies in building capacity from within physiotherapy, and we’ve outlined how this can be done in our solutions paper.”

The APA made recommendations across four focus areas: better community care, physiotherapy in hospitals, rural physiotherapy and health workforce reform.

“The role of physiotherapists during the pandemic has been vital. We have worked from admission to rehabilitation and have a critical role in helping COVID-19 patients navigate their recovery.

“We know that physiotherapy rehabilitation programs can ease fatigue and improve the mood and health of people living with long COVID, which leads to increased productivity,” says Mr Willis.

The focus area, physiotherapy in the hospital, contains solutions for managing hospital demand, avoiding admissions and lowering readmission rates.

Tom Hindhaugh, APA Victorian Branch President, says long waitlists for orthopaedic surgeries have resulted in prolonged pain and disability for many.

“In addition to supporting post-operative rehabilitation, physiotherapists can assist those currently on surgical waitlists in managing their pain and maintaining functional activities.”

The APA also calls for increased funding to develop the existing physiotherapy workforce, including enabling upskilling and advanced skill acquisition to manage increasing complexity and co-morbidities in the population.

“More focus is required on investment for all health disciplines experiencing shortages alongside funded solutions to achieving an optimal balance of skill mix in addressing patient need.

“A priority must be placed on the professionally qualified clinical and regulated staff groups, including doctors and nurses, and a number of vital allied health professions.

“The cost-effectiveness of physiotherapy interventions is proven both in the literature and through cost-benefit analysis, we’re hoping both parties will give our priority asks due consideration,” says Mr Willis.

Victorian physiotherapist Dr Alicia Rayner agrees, saying physiotherapists are uniquely positioned to treat long COVID.

“We have a solid understanding of the cardiopulmonary, musculoskeletal and psychosocial impacts of long COVID.

“Our first step in treatment is excluding everything else and making sure it is long COVID, rather than something masquerading as it.”

We have no medical cure for long COVID, explains Dr Rayna, so physios are crucial to ongoing care.

“The recommended treatment is a combination of modifying diet, getting good sleep and exercising in a way that ‘heals’ the body.

“As physios, we can use hands-on techniques for joint and muscle pain and make suggestions to improve sleep.

“Tailored exercise really is the ‘magic pill’ which can help with fatigue, muscle and joint pain, shortness of breath, sleep and mental health.”