Can a New Approach Help Young People Better Cope with Persistent Symptoms After Covid?

Young people aged 12 to 18 affected by prolonged symptoms after a Covid infection often see their daily lives disrupted. Persistent fatigue, headaches, breathing difficulties, and anxiety can linger long after the acute phase of the illness. These issues, sometimes referred to as post-Covid syndrome, affect a significant number of adolescents and can complicate their schooling, social relationships, and development.

A team of British researchers tested an original method to support them. The idea was to combine tailored breathing exercises with narrative therapy. The latter encourages young people to tell their stories and identify their strengths to better face challenges. The goal was not only to reduce physical symptoms but also to help them regain confidence and feel less isolated.

Thirty-two adolescents took part in this experiment. Half received group sessions in addition to usual care, while the other half continued to receive only standard treatments. The sessions were held online and lasted three and a half hours. They were led by a specialized physiotherapist and a psychologist. Participants learned to better manage their breathing and shared their experiences with other young people in the same situation.

The feedback was positive. The adolescents appreciated the online format, which allowed them to participate from home in a reassuring environment. Many emphasized the importance of feeling heard and understood. Hearing that others were experiencing the same difficulties helped them put things into perspective and find strategies to move forward. The breathing exercises, meanwhile, were seen as helpful in alleviating feelings of breathlessness and stress.

One finding particularly struck the researchers: nearly 85% of participants had a breathing pattern disorder. This means that their breathing, often too rapid or shallow, worsened symptoms such as dizziness and chest pain. These disorders are not related to a lung problem but rather to an imbalance in how the body manages breathing. Targeted exercises can correct them.

Over the months, researchers observed an overall improvement in symptoms among all participants, whether they had undergone the intervention or not. This suggests that time plays a key role in recovery. However, young people who participated in the group sessions reported a more marked improvement in emotional well-being. They also reported a better quality of life and less daily fatigue.

This approach does not cure post-Covid syndrome, but it provides concrete tools to better live with it. It also highlights the importance of addressing these disorders from both a physical and psychological perspective. Breathing disorders, often overlooked, deserve special attention as they can be the source of many debilitating symptoms.

Researchers emphasize the need to continue studies to refine these methods and make them accessible to more young people. They also stress the importance of personalized follow-up, as each adolescent reacts differently. In the meantime, this experiment opens a promising avenue for improving the daily lives of those struggling to return to normal life after Covid.

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Reference Document

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-026-06840-7

Title: The breath and mind connection in young people with post-COVID syndrome: feasibility and acceptability of a pilot randomised co-designed intervention

Journal: European Journal of Pediatrics

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Authors: Charlotte Wells; Deborah Christie; Rebecca Johnston; Faye Knight; Monica Samuel; Terry Y. Segal; Mark Shevlin; Rachel Sparrow; Deborah Woodman; Samatha Sonnappa