Treatment for Long COVID Patients

This program is delivered virtually and is available to all residents of Ontario, British Columbia or Alberta.

What is Long COVID?

Most people recover from a COVID-19 infection within a few weeks. However, for some, symptoms linger or new health challenges appear months after the initial illness. This is known as Long COVID.

It can feel like your body hasn’t quite “reset” after the virus. You might find that your energy levels are low, your thinking feels “cloudy,” or your heart races during simple tasks. These symptoms often come and go in waves, making it difficult to plan your daily life.

Why Do I Still Feel Sick?

Even after the virus has left your system, your body’s defense team (the immune system) may stay on “high alert.” This internal stress can cause:

• Inflammation:  Your body continues to act as if it is fighting an infection.
• Circulation Issues:  Changes in how oxygen moves through your blood can make your muscles feel heavy or tired.
• Nervous System Dysfunction:  Your body is stuck in a state of “threat detection.” This keeps your system on high alert, causing heart palpitations, dizziness, and the feeling of being “wired but tired.”

Common Signs and Symptoms

Long COVID can affect almost any part of the body. You might recognize some of these common experiences:

How our Long COVID Assessment Works

Your first visit is about understanding your specific version of Long COVID. We move at your pace to ensure we don’t trigger a “crash.”

• Your Story:  We begin by discussing your health history and how your symptoms impact your work, home life, and goals. Understanding your unique triggers is the first step in regaining control.
• Crash Screening:  We use validated screening tools to check for Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM)—the surge in symptoms that happens after physical or mental effort. This ensures that every strategy we provide is safe for your specific energy limits.
• Active Stand Testing:  We monitor your heart rate and blood pressure while you transition from lying down to standing. This helps us see how your nervous system handles gravity and identifies issues like POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) that are common in post-viral conditions.
• The Roadmap:  We wrap up by reviewing biometric data from your wearable device and creating a clear, step-by-step plan. This “roadmap” focuses on stabilizing your symptoms first, so you can eventually expand your activity levels without getting sicker.

Our Approach to Long COVID Treatment

The strategies that will be recommended are as unique as your presentation is. No two treatment plans will be the same.  Some common strategies include:

• The Energy Envelope:  We help you identify your daily “budget” for energy. We teach you the 70% Rule: stop your activity when you still have 30% left in the tank to avoid the “crash.”
• The 4 P’s:  We help you master Pacing, Planning, Prioritizing, and Positioning so you can do the things you love without getting sicker.
• Calming the System:  We use gentle techniques to move your body out of “fight or flight” mode and into “rest and repair” mode.

Using Technology to Guide Your Recovery

We take the guesswork out of your recovery by using Biometric Monitoring. If you use a wearable device (like an Apple Watch, Garmin, or Oura Ring), we can use that data to stay within your “safe zone.”

• Heart Rate Variability (HRV):  We track your HRV to see how well your nervous system is recovering. A dip in HRV can be an “early warning signal” to rest before a crash happens.
• Activity Volume Tracking:  We monitor metrics like daily step counts or active calories burned to identify your “safe activity window.” By looking at the data from your “good days” versus your “crash days,” we can set a data-driven limit on movement to ensure you stay within your energy envelope.

A Team Approach

Because Long COVID affects the whole body, recovery often requires a “team of experts” working together. At Cornerstone, we use an interdisciplinary model to ensure no part of your health is overlooked.

• Physiotherapy:  Our focus is on building a stable physical foundation. We prioritize energy management over traditional exercise if you experience Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM) and guide you through the stages of increasing your activity safely and successfully.
• Occupational Therapy (OT):  OTs are the experts in “functional energy.” They help you modify your workspace, manage “brain fog” through cognitive pacing, and find easier ways to perform daily tasks like cooking or showering.
• Registered Dietetics:  Nutrition is a powerful tool for managing inflammation. Our dietitians help you design an anti-inflammatory eating plan to support your mitochondrial health and energy levels.

Our Clinical Advisory Team

Dr. Angela Cheung
Physician and Researcher
Read their bio here

Dr. Kieran Quinn
Physician and Research
Read their bio here

Dr. Todd Davenport
Physical Therapist, Professor and Researcher
Read their bio here

Frequently Asked Questions

Is This Program Right For You?

• Do you feel “wiped out” 24 hours after a busy day?
• Does your heart race when you stand up to do the dishes?
• Do you feel like your brain is “buffering” during conversations?
• Have you tried to “push through” the fatigue only to feel worse?

If you answered “yes,” our post-infection rehabilitation program can help you regain control.

Long COVID Resources

Long COVID | Symptoms, Treatment, Prognosis
Use of Wearable Technology in Long COVID Rehabilitation
Controlling Long COVID Symptoms with Pacing
10 Things You Should Know About Long COVID
Webinar | Long COVID Rehab Questions & Answers
What to do if you get COVID Again
Use of HRV Biofeedback in Long COVID Rehabilitation
An Employers Guide to Supporting People Living with Long COVID