Introducing Virginia is for Learners Live Virtual Training! Attend live training and be part of a virtual classroom. It's the same high-quality learning experience and expert instruction you've come to expect from APTA Virginia in-person classroom training—only it's from the convenience of your own home or work computer.

Classes are limited in size and specifically designed to engage students virtually. Our course content has been adapted for optimal online learning:

Instructor-led/facilitator-supported
CEUs and Certificate of Completion available

The medical and research communities are rapidly sharing updated and/or evolving information regarding the lingering effects of SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19 on various patient populations. Clinicians often feel overwhelmed, unsure of information quality, or unclear about how such information relates to clinical practice, especially in an outpatient environment.

You may ask yourself:

How might a patient’s previous (confirmed or suspected) COVID-19 infection influence rehabilitation for return to work or sport?
Are there specific questions or screening strategies I should use if my patient has a COVID-19 history?
Is graded cardiovascular exercise a one-size-fits-all approach to post-COVID conditions?

This 1.5-hour webinar will discuss common clinical presentations of post-COVID conditions, from the hospitalized, post-ICU patient to the high-level athlete returning to sport. This course aims to help rehabilitation clinicians differentiate between post-COVID conditions or phenotypes amenable to traditional, graded-exercise rehabilitation approaches and those that may benefit from a symptom-management approach.

As physical therapists and physical therapy assistants, functional movement and exercise-based intervention strategies are the foundation of our profession. However, as we will learn in this course, there are specific clinical features such as post-viral fatigue or dysautonomia that should inform if, how, and when to prescribe exercise. In addition, resources will be provided for therapists, patients, their families, and their care teams.

Discuss the incidence and prevalence of post-COVID conditions in the United States and The Commonwealth.
Discuss post-COVID multi-system sequelae which may result in episodic or long-term disablement.
Explain how different post-COVID clinical phenotypes affect rehabilitation pathways and symptom management.
Formulate questions as part of an evidence-based subjective examination to identify post-COVID conditions in the outpatient setting.
Explain the role of breathing pattern assessment and/or determination of breathing pattern dysfunction in the physical examination of patients with post-COVID conditions.
Analyze data from the subjective history, screening tools, physical examination, and functional outcome measures to determine safe rehabilitation pathways and/or symptom management strategies.
Recognize the role of energy conservation and pacing strategies in improving function and quality of life for people living with post-COVID conditions.
Recognize the role of previous physical and/or cognitive exertion as an exacerbating factor for people living with the Long COVID phenotype(s).
Participate in creating a healthcare environment that accommodates the varying needs of patients living with post-COVID conditions.

Talia M. Pollok PT, DPT is a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy currently serving in various clinical roles within UVA Health. Dr. Pollok serves as the Nominating Committee Chairperson with the Academy of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy, is on the teaching faculty for the Bradcliff Breathing Method, and was recently appointed to the Education Committee of the international patient advocacy group, LongCOVID Physio.

In February 2021, after almost 15 years of clinical practice in acute and critical care, Dr. Pollok was asked to revitalize and restructure the outpatient UVA Health Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program after its closure during the COVID-19 pandemic. After establishing a physical-therapy-led Pulmonary Rehabilitation program, Dr. Pollok began working with patients experiencing varying degrees and phenotypes of Long COVID.