Living with Long COVID? Why a Breathing MOT might help You breathe again

We may be 5 years down the line from those days of lockdowns, social distancing and covid tests, but for those struggling with Long Covid, even the smallest amount of activity can still feel like running a marathon while out of breath. Fatigue, breathlessness, and shifting breathing patterns make even a short walk or tasks around the house feel overwhelming. And 5 years on, it's totally understandable if you're at the end of your tether with it. If this sounds familiar, you're not alone - and there's a way forward: The Breathing MOT.

Why Long COVID and breathing go hand-in-hand

Long COVID symptoms often include a tight chest, shortness of breath and subtle but destabilising shifts in how you breathe. For some, these are due to something called a breathing pattern disorders. These might present as shallow chest breaths, mouth breathing or frequent sighing. According to NHS guidance, breathing exercises, especially gentle nose-breathing and returning to your natural rhythm, can support your recovery.

Studies show pulmonary rehabilitation adapted for Long COVID can help improve lung function, walking distance and overall quality of life in just 4 - 8 weeks. Yet many programs fall short because they treat the lungs in isolation without considering how breathing mechanics fit with fatigue, post-exertional malaise or cognitive symptoms common in Long COVID.

How the Breathing MOT addresses that gap

At The Breathing MOT, we start with a focused, holistic MOT:

• We assess your breathing mechanics both at rest and during movement, as well as your posture, oxygen patterns, fatigue triggers and daily demands. We anaylse which parts of your breathing system and overall presentation require input. From here, we design a tailored recovery plan for you.

• Our MOT isn’t about labelling symptoms. It’s about equipping you to rebuild your breathing from the ground up - gently, safely and with your body's signals in mind.

What a Long Covid recovery plan looks like

Your tailored recovery plan may consider of:

1. Breathing pattern retraining and nervous system regulation This includes nasal breathing, lengthening exhale and using your diaphragm, not just your chest. These alongside other lifestyle adjustments help reset your nervous system balance and will ease your symptoms.

2. Personalised movement and exercise Structured activity is essential, but pacing matters. We design guided, progressive exercise plans, starting in seated or lying positions if needed and slowly scaling up depending on your response, all while considering fatigue and post-exertional malaise.

3. Smart pacing strategies We help you learn to rest effectively, avoid overactivity and time tasks to protect your energy - not drain it.

4. Education & body awareness Knowing what’s happening in your body reduces anxiety, improves pacing and teaches you to notice early warning signs before they escalate.

Evidence that this approach works

Our approach offers a practical, evidence-backed approach to managing Long COVID, especially for those struggling with ongoing fatigue, breathlessness, and reduced exercise tolerance.

According to findings shared by the Royal Society, Long COVID likely results from lingering viral fragments, persistent inflammation and damage to blood vessels that affect how oxygen moves through the body. Respiratory rehab can help break this cycle by improving breathing efficiency, building physical resilience gradually and easing the burden on the cardiovascular system. Importantly, it supports recovery without pushing patients into post-exertional crashes, making it a safe and structured way to regain strength while the science of Long COVID continues to evolve.

What Long Covid symptoms might benefit from our approach?

Our service is tailored to people with Long Covid who:

• Feel breathless even after light effort

• Notice their usual breathing pattern has changed

• Experience extreme fatigue or post-exertional setbacks

• Have brain fog, concentration issues or anxiety around movement

• Want to rebuild resilience safely and sustainably

Long COVID isn’t just about weak lungs. It reflects a fragile system where breathing, movement and energy must be rebalanced. The Breathing MOT is a starting point to reset your breath and body.

If breathing feels like a battle, but you're ready to try something gentle, structured and rooted in understanding your body’s signals, book your MOT today. Let's help you breathe better, feel steady and move forward - one calm breath at a time.