Post-COVID Rehabilitation

Practical rehab for breathing, energy, strength, and thinking

Lingering symptoms after COVID-19 can make everyday life feel harder than it should. At Daviess Community Hospital’s CORE Center, our Post-COVID Therapy program helps you rebuild stamina, strength, balance, breathing, and cognition with a plan that fits your day—and adapts as you improve. Care is available in Washington and Odon, Indiana, and we welcome patients from Daviess County and across Southern Indiana.

Our goal is simple: help you do more with less symptom flare-up, and get you back to the routines you value.

Who may benefit

If you’re still experiencing symptoms 4+ weeks after COVID-19, a therapy evaluation may help. Common concerns include:

• Fatigue or “crash” after activity; reduced exercise tolerance
• Shortness of breath, chest tightness, or inefficient breathing patterns
• Brain fog: trouble focusing, multitasking, or remembering
• General deconditioning; weakness; reduced stamina
• Dizziness, imbalance, or unsteady walking
• Headache, neck/back discomfort; joint or muscle pain
• Sleep disruption
• Swallowing or voice changes (less common, but treatable)

Symptoms vary widely. Your plan is individualized to your goals, energy, and medical guidance.

How CORE’s Post-COVID program helps

We deliver coordinated physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT), and speech-language pathology (SLP) so care is comprehensive and efficient.

Physical Therapy (PT)

• Graded activity & pacing: safe, stepwise progression to rebuild endurance without overexertion
• Breathing retraining: diaphragmatic and stacked-breathing drills; posture strategies to move air more efficiently
• Strength & mobility: progressive programs for hips, core, shoulders; gentle flexibility work
• Gait & balance: walking practice, curb/uneven surfaces, fall-prevention strategies
• Vitals monitoring: heart rate, oxygen saturation, rate-of-perceived exertion to stay within safe ranges

Occupational Therapy (OT)

• Energy conservation at home/work: planning, task batching, micro-breaks, and weekly load management
• Daily routines & self-care: showering/dressing strategies, kitchen and household tasks, return-to-work/school supports
• Cognitive supports in daily life: checklists, timers, visual cues, and environment setup to reduce mental load
• Ergonomics & posture: desk and device setup to reduce symptom triggers

Speech-Language Pathology (SLP)

• Cognitive-communication: attention, memory, processing speed, organization, and word-finding strategies
• Voice & breathing coordination: when vocal fatigue or dysphonia are present
• Swallowing screening and treatment if lingering dysphagia is suspected

We coordinate with your primary care and specialty providers (with permission) and update your plan as your symptoms change.

What to expect

Evaluation

We review your COVID history, current symptoms, medications, and goals. Your therapist screens strength, endurance, balance, gait, breathing mechanics, and cognitive function (as needed). We also discuss energy triggers and activities you want to resume.

Personalized plan

Together, we set clear goals (e.g., walk 10–20 minutes without a crash, cook a meal, work a partial shift, keep up with school tasks) and choose the right services. Your plan includes in-clinic therapy and a doable home routine scaled to “good days” and “low-energy days.”

Progress you can feel

We track outcomes—walking time/distance, symptom response to activity, strength, balance, and cognitive-communication measures—and adjust your plan as you improve.

Is Post-COVID therapy right for me now?

Consider an evaluation if you:

• Still feel excessive fatigue or breathlessness weeks after COVID
• Struggle to return to work/school or daily routines
• Experience dizziness/imbalance or “brain fog” that limits activity
• Want a structured, safe path back to exercise and participation

If you have new chest pain, severe breathlessness, or new neurologic symptoms, contact your physician or call 911 first. Once medically cleared, therapy can help you move forward safely.

Locations & scheduling

CORE Center | 421 E. Van Trees Street, Washington, IN
CORE Center at North Daviess | 800 S. West Street, Odon, IN

Call (812) 254-8889 to schedule a Post-COVID evaluation or ask about referral requirements. We serve patients from Washington, Odon, Jasper, Vincennes, Loogootee, Petersburg, Bloomfield, and nearby communities across Southern Indiana.

FAQs

Will exercise make my symptoms worse?
We use graded activity and pacing with vitals monitoring to progress safely. Your plan respects your current tolerance and builds gradually.

How long does recovery take?
Timelines vary. Many people notice meaningful gains in 4–8 weeks with consistent therapy and home strategies.

Do I need a referral?
Many insurers require one. Call (812) 254-8889 and we’ll help you determine next steps.

Can therapy help with brain fog?
Yes. Our SLPs and OTs provide cognitive-communication strategies and routine planning to reduce overwhelm and improve productivity.