"A healthy body will help post Covid patients overcome even mental trauma," shared Physio Anant Singh, Senior Physiotherapist at AYUSH Department.
Dr. Anant Singh, along with Physio Anubha Singhai, Director, PhysiQure Healthcare, has come up with some effective breathing exercises for post covid patients for a healthier body.
While talking to The Pioneer, he said, "The most scary symptom of Covid 19 is wet cough. Our lungs get effected during Covid and hence, it becomes even more important to clear them out during recovery time."
He shared, " For this, NHS recommends Active Cycles of Breathing Techniques(ACBT) to help improve air entry in the lungs and force out secretions. It is a combination of 3 basic steps to clear chest."
The breathing exercises include three simple steps. First is 'Breathing Control'. Breathing control helps relax the airways. Patient should breathe in through your nose and out through the mouth with very little effort. Use normal, gentle breathing with the lower chest while relaxing the upper chest and shoulders.
Next step is Thoracic Expansion Exercises Breath in deeply and try to hold for 3 seconds followed by expiration. Put your hand on different parts of the chest to feel the expansion. Repeat 3-4 times before next step.
The last step is Forced Expiration (Huffing & Coughing). Take a medium-sized breath and breath out forcefully with partially opened lips. Repeat 3-4 times till mucus is cleared.
These three simple set of highly useful Breathing exercises should be done at least 2-3 times daily preferably after steam inhalation, he added.
Physio Anant Singh said, "Along With these Exercises it is also advisable to do all joints Movements and stretching to make the muscles strength and Flexibility of joints. Because the stiff muscles will limit the mobility and may deteriorate the general health."
On asking about trainers for post covid patients, he said, "Well, it is advisable to have assessment of body by a physiotherapist. As if patients does all the exercises in a proper supervision the recovery becomes smoother."
