Long COVID Recovery

by Dynamic Motion Physiotherapy | Asquith, Exercise Physiology, Team DMP

Do you have Long Covid and or POTS or are you struggling to recover from a bout of Covid 19?

Safe and effective rehabilitation is fundamental in a multi-pronged approach to long Covid recovery.

Rehabilitation for LONG covid must be individualized and specific to the individual based on their symptoms, lifestyle and health background

Regardless of your symptoms your Accredited Exercise Physiologist will treat you as an individual and get to know you and the underlying causes before starting any treatment

Firstly, what is long Covid?

Long COVID has been preliminarily defined as the presence of signs and symptoms that develop during or following an infection consistent with COVID-19 which continue for 12 weeks or more. Typically, it is referred to as acute COVID-19 until 4 weeks and ongoing COVID-19 from 4 to 12 weeks

Long COVID affects people who have been hospitalised with acute COVID-19 and those who recovered at home. Individuals who have experienced either mild or severe COVID-19 can go on to have prolonged symptoms or develop Long COVID.

Most people living with the disease were previously fit and healthy. Children experience Long COVID symptoms similar to adults and at about the same frequency.

MANAGEMENT & REHABILITATION OF LONG COVID:

Safe and effective rehabilitation to support the patient may include:

– Activity pacing

– Heart rate monitoring

– Heart rate variability monitoring

– Gentle and appropriate movement and education

– Collaborating with other health care professionals where appropriate/ desired

Various tests and assessments may be carried out to understand and find the possible causes of some symptoms such as:

– Breathlessness

– Chest pain

– Palpitations

– Fatigue and Post Exertional Malaise

– Fainting and or dizziness

– Low oxygen saturation

– Pain

– POTS

Fatigue and Post exertional symptom exacerbation (PESE or PEM)

Fatigue is a feeling of extreme exhaustion and is the most common symptom of Long COVID. It: • is not easily relieved by rest or sleep • is not the result of unusually difficult activity • can limit functioning in day-to-day activities • negatively impacts quality of life

PESE/PEM

Post-exertional symptom exacerbation (PESE) is a disabling and often delayed exhaustion disproportionate to the effort made. It is sometimes described as a “crash”. The activity that can trigger this worsening of symptoms can be something that was easily tolerated before, such as: • a daily activity (eg a shower) • a social activity • walking (or other exercise) • reading, writing or working at a desk • an emotionally charged conversation • being in a sensory environment (eg loud music or flashing lights)

If you are interested in a consultation with Deb, please call 94771997 and ask for a “LONG COVID” initial assessment. Health fund rebates may apply.

About me:

Deb Eveniss BSpSc, MClinExPhys, ESSAM

I am an Accredited Exercise Physiologist with a Masters of Clinical Exercise Physiology. I have worked with many chronic and or acute health conditions including neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, cancer, diabetes and more. I have recently studied and extensively researched long covid and pots as well as currently recovering from my own long covid experience. I will provide a safe, supportive and non-judgemental approach to your rehabilitation.

NOTE: The World Health Organization/Emerge AUS/Aus POTS Foundation recommends that Long COVID rehabilitation should include educating people about resuming everyday activities conservatively, at an appropriate pace that is safe and manageable for energy levels within the limits of current symptoms, and exertion should not be pushed to the point of fatigue or worsening of symptoms.

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The Team

Mai-Anh is a passionate, dedicated physiotherapist with a passion for connecting with her patients, and working with them collaboratively to reach their goals.

She first trained as a muscle biologist and was awarded a PhD from the University of Sydney for her work in the development of therapies to improve muscle structure and function in a diseased population.

Her work was presented in Australia and internationally and published in leading scholarly journals, winning numerous prizes.

Having a passion for helping people, Mai-Ahn returned to study, where she gained her Masters of Physiotherapy from the University of Sydney.

Mai-Anh enjoys providing both hands-on therapy and exercise prescription so that you can get back to doing what you love. But most of all, she loves seeing improvements in her patients and the smiles on their faces at the end of the session.

When not in the clinic, Mai-Anh can be found at the basketball court, filming and cheering her daughter or trying to shoot a few hoops of her own. She also loves gardening and anything outdoors, often wandering a market with the family’s big fluffy Ragdoll cat, Mr Oodie aka Lord Oodington.

With 20 years experience as a musculoskeletal and rehabilitation physio, Maya enjoys teaching people how to get the best out of their body, no matter what stage of life they are in.

Maya previously worked as a senior physiotherapist at Mt Wilga Private Hospital and has extensive experience in pre and post operative rehabilitation, persistent pain and managing complex or chronic conditions,including a special interest in Long Covid. She is also a qualified Pilates instructor and has recently completed her Women’s Health training.

Maya loves to build rapport with her patients to ensure they receive individualised treatment and education delivered with compassion and empathy.

Steph has always loved sport and exercise and was heavily involved in athletics for over a decade. She also played hockey and touch football for many years. This love of physical activity and sport combined with a deep care for people turned into a career as a physiotherapist, helping restore people from injury or pain to ensure they continue doing what they enjoy.

Steph graduated from a Bachelor of Applied Science (Exercise and Sports Science) in 2011, and a Doctor of Physiotherapy degree at Macquarie University in 2015. While studying, Steph conducted research with physiotherapists at the Australian Institute of Sport looking at predicting and preventing injuries in elite athletes. For the past 7 years Steph has worked with a range of sporting, musculoskeletal and women’s health conditions and has trained extensively in the treatment of chronic lower back pain.

Steph loves being outdoors, anything from hiking up a mountain to relaxing at the beach. She loves a hard CrossFit workout, going for a run or working out in the home gym. Most of all she loves spending quality time with her husband and two little boys

Steph is currently instructing pilates classes in our Asquith clinic.

Deb Eveniss

Exercise Physiologist

Deb is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist with a Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science and a Master of Clinic Exercise Physiology.

Deb began her health and fitness career working as a personal trainer after obtaining her Certificate III and IV in Fitness. Here she developed a keen interest in healthy aging, falls prevention and cancer and exercise. Deb then decided to further her knowledge and experience by further study and becoming an exercise physiologist.

Deb has a keen interest in helping those with cancer, neurological conditions such as MS, HD, PD and stroke and brain injury survivors. More recently she has been researching and treating fatigue conditions including Long Covid, ME/CFS, POTS and EDS. Deb strongly believes that “movement is medicine” and wants to help people enjoy all that safe and healthy movement can bring.

In her spare time Deb is heavily involved in parkrun, soccer, trail running, hiking, kayaking and raising two very busy teenagers.

Alex Bate

Exercise Physiologist

Alex has worked as an exercise physiologist for nearly a decade in a number of private practices, seeing patients across a wide spectrum of physical abilities and exercise needs.After moving to Dynamic Motion, Alex spent time developing our exercise physiology services and building our seniors exercise class program.

He has previously been involved in a research team at University of Sydney which specialised in high-intensity exercise in older populations and people with chronic disease, where he ran a clinical trial examining resistance exercise in pre-diabetes and depression. His clinical background largely covers athletic strength and conditioning, particularly weight training; exercise in older individuals; and exercise for chronic conditions, particularly cardiometabolic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.

He believes you’re never too old to exercise, and that keeping a habit of strength training is crucial for healthy ageing and adding life to years, as well as years to life. He is passionate about teaching people to do this safely, in a way that suits their circumstances and preferences, while addressing any specific health issues they may have.

For recreation Alex enjoys staying active by training for powerlifting, muay thai, recreational mountain biking, and exploring the Sydney outdoors with bushwalking and scuba diving.

Bec has always loved to see the benefits of movement and being active in her own life. From a young age she was involved with her local swim club and competed at a National level. However these days, you’re more likely to see her walking or running at the park with her two kids, or in the Pilates studio.

Since graduating with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy, obtained at the Australian Catholic University, Bec has a wide range of work experience. From helping community sporting teams, private practice work, and teaching Pilates.

Bec’s goal for her patients is to help restore and maintain movement so that they can live their life to the full. She utilises education, hands on treatment and a customised exercise program to help support people towards their more specific goals.

Gwen Estigoy

Exercise Physiologist

Gwen is a passionate and dedicated Exercise Physiologist who recently relocated from Canberra, where she pursued her studies and completed a Bachelor of Exercise Physiology at the University of Canberra in 2020. Prior to this achievement, Gwen earned a Bachelor of Health Science degree with a major in Human Movement in 2014, showcasing her commitment to the field of health and wellness.

Gwen has a background working with adults and children with Arthritis and has extensive training with treating and managing various chronic pain conditions. With her extensive knowledge and hands-on experience, Gwen is a compassionate and skilled professional who seeks to make a lasting impact on the lives of those she works with. Gwen is dedicated to empowering individuals through exercise to improve their overall health and well-being. Adopting a bio-psychosocial approach, Gwen is committed to providing exercise interventions that are evidence based to achieve the best possible health outcomes.

One of Gwen’s particular areas of interest is creating inclusive and safe exercise spaces where everyone can access the benefits of exercise and movement. Gwen has experience working with vulnerable groups and individuals, including the LGBTQIA+ community and people from different cultural/religious backgrounds.

Outside the clinic, Gwen enjoys playing futsal, planning the next cook on the smoker/bbq, and exploring scenic routes on her motorbike.

Katie Austin

Massage Therapist

Katie is a Sports and Remedial Massage Therapist with over 10 years experience. She will tailor a treatment to suit your needs and goals, using various techniques to get your body functioning through the use of Remedial Massage, Sports Massage, Myofascial Release and Trigger Point Therapy. Over the years she has worked with athletes in the NRL and Olympians and has taught the Dip. Remedial Massage course.

Her interests around Massage is to help people maintain a pain free life. Her particular interest is to help and treat clients who are training for specific events or to aid their training. She also enjoys treating neck issues and seeing people move more freely

Away from work she enjoys staying active and running regularly, having done a few half and full marathons and recently taken up cycling. Travelling is a massive passion of Katie’s in particular seeing the sights of the world. Machu Picchu is definitely the most amazing thing she’s seen!

Ann Ross

Physiotherapist

Ann is a Titled Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist.

Ann graduated from Sydney University in 1983. She returned to Sydney University in 1994 to study for a
Post Graduate Degree in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy.

She has worked in private practice for over 35 years, including running Burns Bay Physiotherapy in Lane
Cove for 26 years with my sister.

As part of my commitment to the physiotherapy profession she served on numerous state and national
Australian Physiotherapy Association committees over an 8-year period, including 1 year as the NSW
Vice President.

She worked in a variety of practices before starting Burns Bay Physiotherapy in 1996. She ran this
practice for 26 years. Overall, she has over 35 years of experience in private practice.

Ann continues to pursue her interests in understanding and applying the latest research in the field of
Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy, plus her years of experience to achieve the optimal results for her
clients. She has particular interests in back pain, lower limb problems, shoulders and chronic pain.

Outside of work Ann enjoys spending her time cycling, gardening, and spending time with her family.

“My passion is to achieve great outcomes for my clients so that they can enjoy the best possible quality
of life. Whether your pain is of short or longstanding nature, I am keen to work with you to achieve great
outcomes.”

Julia Giblin

Physiotherapist

Clinical special interest areas:
Prevention and Rehabilitation of functional impairments, shoulder, hip, knee and ankle injuries, complex and chronic back related conditions,
Womens Health and functional whole body assessment.

Personal interests: Spending time with my family and friends. Travel, Running, Hiking, Food

Originally trained in Germany, Julia has gained Australian accreditation.
She has experience in orthopedic and surgical conditions as well as functional impairments.
She sees the human body as one whole and is always pushed to identify the source of a problem. Hands on manual therapy. being functional and regain/retrain ideal conditions.
Keeping up to date and developing skills on PD courses.

Motto: there is always room to improve

Rob became interested in anatomy, exercise, and the human body when he began going to the gym in high school. He began researching and managing his own injuries with exercise and from that point, physiotherapy stood out as a career for him.

Rob developed his skills and gained experience in private practice, musculoskeletal, sports physiotherapy and post-surgical rehabilitation at the Australian Catholic University where he completed his Bachelor of Physiotherapy. Rob believes in managing patients with a combination of hands-on techniques and exercise. He aims to involve the patient in the decision-making process to optimise results such as reducing pain and increasing function in work, sport, or day-to-day living.

Outside of physiotherapy, Rob enjoys living an active life including cycling and regularly going to the gym and outdoors with friends and family.

Denise has been practising for more than 20 years, since graduating from her Physiotherapy degree at Sydney University, in both hospital and private practice settings. She has developed a special interest in treating postural neck and back pain, shoulder injuries and foot and ankle pain, as well as rehabilitation following hip and knee surgery.

Denise experienced first-hand the benefits of improving core muscle strength and stability after having her first child, and this led to her undertaking Clinical Pilates courses.. She has since applied this knowledge widely in the clinic for the treatment and prevention of pain and poor posture, utilising the principles learned from from 15 years of practising and teaching physiotherapy- based Pilates. Denise has vast experience as an educator, teaching everything from Get Fit to Ski classes, to Physio Pilates and Prenatal Education classes. She feels great satisfaction in seeing her clients learn more about their bodies and how they can move better.

She particularly enjoys working with women during and after pregnancy to help them feel stronger and fitter, as well as those who are generally deconditioned following surgery or illness.

Away from the clinic, Denise loves to share a delicious meal with her family and friends, enjoy the great outdoors, get lost in an engrossing book or enjoy community at her local church.

Amanda Baxter

Physiotherapist

Amanda is passionate about injury prevention and patient education, empowering you to take part in your recovery to be your best self.

She also teaches regular small Group Physiotherapy classes at our Berowra clinic. Her qualifications include a Bachelor of Health Science, majoring in Movement Science, and a Masters in Physiotherapy from The University of Sydney.

Amanda has hands on experience with work placement at Westmead Children’s Hospital, St Joseph’s Rehab Hospital, Northern Sydney Lung Rehab Clinic and a private practice – Sports, Spinal & Rehab Solutions, Hornsby. She is also experienced in Aged Care, rehabilitation, falls prevention and manual handling training and assessment.

Amanda also has a strong background in personal fitness training, nutrition coaching and Pilates. She loves all kinds of sports and physical activity and spending time with her family, including her husband and two children.

Jennie Whitaker

Physiotherapist

Jennie trained in Sydney and has a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc), Post Graduate Diploma in Physiotherapy and a Master of Management. Jennie has almost 25 years clinical experience in the Public Hospital system. Jennie enjoys treating a range of conditions in general physiotherapy, and has several years experience in her areas of clinical special interest: hand injuries/conditions and women’s health – including pregnancy, ante and post natal education and pelvic floor management for women of all ages.

Jennie has managed the Physiotherapy Department for Nepean and Hornsby Hospitals for 12 years, has been a member and chairperson for the OH&S; Committees of Nepean and Hornsby Hospitals and has been a member of the APA council. She is delighted to be working at Berowra Physiotherapy on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons.

Jane is a physiotherapist who is dedicated to providing high quality, individualised assessment and treatment of patients presenting with pain and movement dysfunction. This requires a thorough initial assessment which provides a reliable diagnosis. Appropriate treatment strategies can then be applied and reassessed at subsequent visits.

The aim Jane’s treatment is to provide patients with effective self-management strategies based on education and personalised exercises and/or management advise. This facilitates optimum results and prevention of further injuries. Year of experience and commitment to continuing education enables Jane to provide reliable and accurate assessments and effective treatment strategies.

Extensive experience in neurological rehabilitation at Royal Prince Albert Hospital and Prince of Wales Hospital has given Jane a holistic approach to movement disorders. One of her special interests is chronic pain. She has completed her post-graudate education through the University of Sydney (Graduate Certificate in Pain Medicine) and have attended David Butler’s Explain Pain course. This training has enabled me to give chronic pain sufferers evidenced based and up to date assessment and treatment. Jane is also quiet passionate about minimising the risk of transition from acute pain to a chronic pain. Early assessment of people who have soft tissue injuries can help identify those at risk of developing a chronic pain problem (neck and low back being the most common). Education, management advise and appropriate exercise can help prevent pain becoming chronic.

Restoring normal movement requires a keen, experienced eye and ear to detect the source of the problem or the link. Pain and movement dysfunction can often have abnormal contribution from the central nervous system. Jane’s background in neurology and pain medicine give her the edge on being able to include neuromuscular facilitation with exercise and functional movement programmes.

Jacqueline Walford

Physiotherapist

Jackie trained as a physiotherapist in Birmingham, UK qualifying in 1987. She worked in London before immigrating to Australia in 1995. After working for another private practice for 7 years Jackie decided to start Berowra Physiotherapy in 2003. This was also the year she took the exam to become a credentialed McKenzie therapist.

Jackie has also completed level 2 sports course and regularly attends post graduate seminars and courses. Jackie takes a very functional approach to treatment seeing it as a partnership between therapist and patient and keeping exercises simple and manageable.

Darren Pivetta

Physiotherapist

Darren has worked as a physiotherapist for over 25 years and has a passion for helping people to move at their best.

He believes in taking a whole-person approach to assessment and injury management, taking into consideration the various factors that contribute to a person’s recovery or ability to improve their performance. He utilises specific advice, education, hands-on therapy and tailored exercises to help people achieve their goals. He is trained in dry needling (Western acupuncture) and teaches Physio Pilates.

Darren has extensive experience and training in treating all types of musculoskeletal problems, neck headaches, postural issues, chronic pain, orthopaedic and sports injury rehabilitation and athletic performance improvement.

On the weekend you will find Darren out playing on the football field, spending time with his family and friends, outside enjoying God’s creation or trying to catch that perfect wave.

Simone Szabo

Physiotherapist

Having worked as a physio for many years, Simone has had a wide variety of experience in both public and private physiotherapy settings, working the last 7 years in private practice. Simone has developed a special interest in treating foot and ankle injuries, running injuries, jaw pain (TMJ) and posture- related back and neck pain.

Simone has vast experience working with elite sporting teams and athletes including Premier League football, rugby, track and field, Australian baseball, and swimming.

Simone is passionate about helping people move well and stay active. She has a plenty of experience in running video analysis, and hands on manual therapy as well as dry needling / acupuncture, and helping develop and retrain ideal movement.

When not in the clinic, you will find her out running, at the beach or spending time with family and friends.