PHYSIOTHERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF COVID-19 IN THE ELDERLY: NARRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

 In the global pandemic caused by the coronavirus, a group of people has become more susceptible to infection: the elderly. Aging is understood as a natural process that leads to reduced health conditions, making people vulnerable to pathological conditions and syndromes that impact quality of life, which compromises their activities of daily living and their independence. It should be noted that the geriatric population is susceptible to COVID-19, presenting severe clinical conditions, in addition to systemic and immunological compromise. In this sense, the present study is a literary narrative review that aims to understand the relationship between COVID-19 and the elderly population. Among the specific objectives, the following stand out: studying the aging process; verifying the vulnerability of the health of the elderly in the context of the pandemic; evaluating the importance of the physiotherapy professional in the treatment of this population. In conclusion, it can be said that the physiotherapy professional has been fundamental in facing the pandemic and in improving, in a biopsychosocial way, the quality of life of the elderly, taking into account the uniqueness of each patient.