Long COVID Recovery: Why Seeing a Neurologic PT Makes All the Difference
5-minute read
Still Not Yourself After COVID? We Get It.
You’ve made it through the acute illness, but months later… things still feel off. Your energy crashes out of nowhere. Your breath catches during basic tasks. You feel dizzy, uncoordinated, foggy, and just not like “you.”
You’re not imagining it and you’re not alone.
These persistent symptoms, now recognized as Long COVID or post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), affect up to 1 in 5 people. And while many healthcare providers are still trying to figure out how to help, neurologic physical therapists—especially board-certified NCS clinicians like Dr. Kathryn—are uniquely equipped to guide your recovery.
What Is Long COVID… Really?
Long COVID isn’t just “long-lasting fatigue.” It’s a complex, multisystem condition that disrupts how your brain and body communicate. Many people experience:
Autonomic dysfunction (like POTS, orthostatic intolerance, heart rate variability)
Respiratory dysfunction (often due to altered breathing patterns, not lung damage)
Cognitive symptoms (brain fog, memory issues, attention deficits)
Sensorimotor changes (imbalance, coordination loss, joint instability)
Post-exertional symptom exacerbation (aka “crashing” after doing too much)
These symptoms reflect dysfunction in the nervous system not just deconditioning.
Why a Neurologic PT Is the Right Provider
As board-certified Neurologic Clinical Specialists (NCS), we’re trained to understand and treat complex, multifactorial conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system. Long COVID often presents more like a neurologic disorder than a traditional orthopedic injury which means a different approach is required.
We don’t just prescribe exercise, we assess how your autonomic nervous system, vestibular system, and central processing are functioning. Then we design a plan that prioritizes nervous system regulation and recovery, not just physical strength.
Our Approach: Calm the Nervous System First
In the early stages of rehab, the goal isn’t to “get stronger” or “work harder” it’s to help your body feel safe, regulated, and capable again.
That starts with:
Breath retraining to restore diaphragm control and reduce overactive sympathetic drive
Autonomic pacing strategies to prevent crashes and build stamina
Vestibular and balance work to address dizziness and postural instability
Graded exposure to movement, light, and cognitive tasks in a safe, controlled way
Everything is personalized based on your symptoms, heart rate variability, energy envelope, and nervous system response.
Strength and Conditioning, When You're Ready
As your system stabilizes, we layer in functional strength training, mobility work, and aerobic conditioning—strategically, not randomly.
That might mean:
Seated strength work on crash days
Short walk intervals with HR monitoring
Eye-head coordination drills for sensory reintegration
Cognitive dual-task training for brain fog recovery
We monitor your body’s feedback constantly. Your symptoms guide the progression. And because we understand neuroplasticity and graded neurorehab, we know how to help you adapt and rebuild resilience without overloading your system.
Why Atomic PT Is Different
At Atomic, your Long COVID recovery isn’t an afterthought it’s a specialty. You’ll work with providers who:
Are neurologic experts—not just general PTs
Understand how to safely treat dysautonomia, neuro fatigue, and sensory processing disorders
Have helped athletes, teachers, caregivers, and weekend warriors get back to running, climbing, working, and thinking clearly again
You’ll never be told to “just push through” your fatigue or handed a cookie-cutter exercise sheet. You’ll get a comprehensive neuro-based rehab plan built around your physiology, your goals, and your healing pace.
Ready to Rewire, Recover, and Rebuild?
Book a Long COVID Neuro Assessment today with Dr. Kathryn and let’s rebuild your brain-body connection safely, strategically, and with support from a specialist who understands what you're going through.
References
Yong SJ. Long COVID: pathophysiology and management. BMJ, 2023.
Raj SR et al. Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and COVID-19. Nature Reviews Cardiology, 2021.
Lambert N. Neurological manifestations of long COVID. Frontiers in Neurology, 2022.
CDC. Post-COVID Conditions: Information for Healthcare Providers. Updated 2024.
