The impact of Covid-19 on health outcomes
- gemmacassidy
- Aug 21, 2020
- 1 min read
The impact of covid-19 globally has been unprecedented. In terms of health there were and still are acute health issues with regards to the virus. However, looking outward to other health services impacted by the temporary shutdown of services, and reduced capacity now reopening has begun cannot be underestimated. The acute services such as cancer immediately spring to mind, however other services such as orthopaedics and rehabilitation have also been affected and the impact of these will potentially be massive. The patient who has been on the waiting list for a knee replacement, now having this pushed back will affect that person physically and psychologically. Trying to manage pain and remain mobile whilst balancing economic and home pressures is no easy task.
There is also the potential for increased foot problems such as Plantar Fasciopathy (previously known as plantarfasciitis) whereby people working from home have extended periods of rest, often barefoot or in slippers at makeshift desks with their feet and postures in undesirable positions and once back to normal activity levels foot pain starts to occur. Or with outdoor exercise increasing during lockdown intense periods of high impact exercise without proper stretching and strengthening programmes maybe a flashpoint for soft tissue injury and inflammation.
Covid-19 for myself personally has been the big push needed to set up my private orthotics and counselling clinic. The all encompassing importance of health has come into sharp focus during this pandemic, showing how physical and mental health are totally intertwined. In practical terms it also causes us to look at alternatives to hospital clinics for non acute treatments, as perhaps one way health practices may change.

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