Exercising during Long COVID may be acceptable

A new study suggests that people with Long COVID may benefit from exercise to improve their health, despite previous recommendations to avoid intense physical activity. Lead researcher Andrea Tryfonos from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden found that individuals with Long COVID did just as well after exercise as healthy people, without worsening their symptoms or negatively affecting their bodies.

The study, published in the journal JAMA Network Open, involved 31 Long COVID patients and 31 healthy individuals who completed three different exercise sessions, including high-intensity interval training, moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, and strength training. Participants underwent medical exams before, immediately after, and two days after the training sessions to assess their symptoms and overall health.

Tryfonos noted that people with Long COVID often have lower levels of fitness and muscle strength, which could be due to the infection and reduced activity. Additionally, 62% of Long COVID patients in the study suffered from myopathy, a muscle weakness condition that cannot be solely explained by reduced activity.

Despite these challenges, the results suggest that people with Long COVID could benefit from exercise under supervision. Tryfonos emphasized the importance of starting with any type of exercise they enjoy at an appropriate level and gradually increasing the intensity.

The findings challenge previous beliefs that exercising with Long COVID could be harmful and provide hope for individuals looking to improve their health post-infection. Further research is underway to better understand the muscle changes observed in Long COVID patients.