Table 1.

Themes and Recommendations from the Long COVID Physio International Forum Discussion Session on Safe Rehabilitation of People Living with Long COVID

Theme	Justification	Recommendation
Avoiding Acute Events and Symptom Flare Ups	People living with Long COVID have experienced acute events, symptom exacerbation (i.e., Post-Exertional Symptom Exacerbation (PESE), or deterioration following traditional approaches to rehabilitation or other physical activity.	Rehabilitation professionals should screen for contraindications or precautions to activity and exercise prior to rehabilitation, plus incorporate modifications to rehabilitation interventions in the presence of PESE and orthostatic intolerances. The focus of rehabilitation is often stabilising fluctuations before building tolerance and activity.
Personalization	People living with Long COVID experience a wide diversity of symptoms, participation restrictions, and episodic disability.	Rehabilitation professionals should be flexible and tailor rehabilitation to the unique needs of each person living with Long COVID.
Facilitating Expectations	Recovery looks different for each person living with Long COVID and is often focused on mitigating disability, optimising functioning, and strategies to support living with disability, rather than a cure.	Rehabilitation professionals should hold clear and accurate expectations for rehabilitation from the beginning and help to inform clients, family members, employers, and other healthcare providers, or any others holding unrealistic expectations, about the role and scope of Long COVID rehabilitation.
Psychologically Supportive	People living with Long COVID need to feel heard and understood by their healthcare providers. Many experience disbelief and stigma, including from health professionals.	Rehabilitation professionals should be authentically non-judgemental and create psychologically safe spaces for rehabilitation.