Introduction

A high percentage of COVID-19 deaths worldwide are associated with one or more chronic conditions. It is also evident that older people are at a higher risk for severe illness with this pandemic. Nutrition is not a cure for COVID-19, but it is a modifiable contributor to the development of chronic disease, which is highly associated with COVID-19 severe illness and deaths. A well-balanced diet strengthens the immune system and reduces the risk of chronic disease and infectious diseases. It is clear in these challenging times that optimizing nutrition is important, not only for ourselves but also for every patient/client that we treat. Every physiotherapist should be aware of the benefits of healthy eating and be able to provide sound nutritional guidance to their patients, especially those with chronic disease. Having knowledge about nutritional interventions that may help prevent chronic conditions and their associated risks is now more important than ever.

Aims

This course aims to provide you with knowledge on how optimized nutrition can help during the COVID-19 pandemic, with respect to respiratory infections, the elderly and people with chronic disease.

Outline

This course is made up of videos, reading, forum posts and a final quiz. The course content is split into the following sections:

1. Video
2. Reading activity
3. Quiz

Target audience

This course is aimed at Physiotherapy and Physical Therapy clinicians, students and assistants. Other interested professionals such as athletic trainers, occupational therapists, nurses or medical doctors interested in this subject are also invited to participate.