Launch of new Hertfordshire Sports Village clinic to help ‘long COVID’ sufferers

A new clinic has opened today (12 April) at the Hertfordshire Sports Village (HSV), University of Hertfordshire, to help those suffering with the long-term effects of COVID-19.

The ‘long COVID’ rehabilitation clinic will provide one-to-one support, both in person and virtually, where clients will be offered fitness and nutritional advice to help aid their recovery from the virus. The new specially trained clinic team will assess the client’s health and fitness at an initial appointment to understand how fit they were before they had COVID-19 and what their fitness and health goals are. They will then create a plan of action to help sufferers progress and achieve these goals. Goals can range from being able to walk short distances, to being able to participate in strenuous exercise activities again.

Most people with COVID-19 will recover after a few days or weeks. But according to the Office for National Statistics, one in five people who have tested positive for COVID-19 will continue to experience symptoms after five weeks. This is often referred to as post-COVID-19 syndrome or ‘long COVID’, and it can be debilitating for those suffering with it.

The symptoms of ‘long COVID’ can vary greatly from person to person and can last for five months or more. The symptoms include:

• fatigue
• shortness of breath
• chest pain or tightness
• problems with memory and concentration
• difficulty sleeping.

Exercise is a key part of the rehabilitation process for those suffering with ‘long COVID’. It can help the sufferer return to full function and it can help prevent long term disability.

Stephen Leslie, Fitness Manager at Hertfordshire Sports Village, said: “Although the number of COVID-19 cases has decreased over the past few months, ‘long COVID’ is still affecting thousands in Hertfordshire and the surrounding areas. For some people, ‘long COVID’ can make it difficult to walk short distances and do other forms of light exercise – activities they could do before they became ill. Not only does this affect a person’s health and fitness, it can also have a big impact on their mental health and wellbeing. And it’s clear that there is still an urgent need for more support for people with ‘long COVID’. We hope the launch of this clinic will help many recover from the long-term effects of the disease and return to their normal way of life.”

The clinic will be available to both members and non-members of HSV. Non-member clients will receive a free HSV membership (normally £40) and all appointments with a coach will be free of charge. Other visits to HSV will be offered at a discounted rate, which will be between £5.50 and £7.50 (peak/off-peak).

Clients will be able to book an appointment with the clinic by calling 01767 284466 or emailing gymhcs@herts.ac.uk.