A new study of 500 long Covid patients by a leading British university found that 75 percent of sufferers reported how the physical activity made their symptoms worse. One co-author of the study, Doctor Manaj Sivan, a medical professor at The University of Leeds, concluded that long Covid has an unusual relationship with exercise compared to other conditions.
For many chronic diseases, such as heart disease, asthma, diabetes, and more, exercise can help. In asthma, exercise can limit the number of asthma attacks.
But in Covid, physical activity can risk bringing on excessive breathlessness and even further complications.
Although the current understanding of the disease is limited, the British Medical Journal (BMJ) explained that the first risk is the potential for cardiac injury, including viral myocarditis.
Myocarditis refers to inflammation of the heart caused by Covid. Exercising even more with this condition can lead to severe complications, including death.
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The BMJ’s advice after a Covid infection is to “only return to exercise after at least seven days free of symptoms, and begin with at least two weeks of minimal exertion”.
Based on the results of the Leeds study, Sivan said: “There needs to be careful planning and a structured tailor-made program to become active again.”
Since the start of Covid, scientists have learned more and more about the virus’ effect on the body, and why it causes symptoms like fatigue.
One recent study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that the energy-producing structures – the mitochondria – in the body did not function properly in long Covid.
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How to safely reintroduce exercise after long Covid
The World Health Organisation has published a self-management booklet on long Covid. It offers tips about how to return to physical exercise safely.
They recommend returning to exercise in five phases, staying at each phase for as little as a week before moving to the next.
The phases of returning back to exercise:
- Preparation for return to exercise – gentle walking, balance exercises, controlled breathing
- Low-intensity activity – walking, light household/gardening tasks
- Moderate intensity activity – brisk walking, going up and down stairs, jogging
- Moderate-intensity exercise with coordination and functional skills – running, cycling, swimming, dance classes
- Return to your baseline exercises – regular exercise
For full details: read the W.H.O manual.
However, the leaflet warns that if you experience any “red flag” symptoms such as chest pain or dizziness, you should stop immediately and not restart your exercise programme until you have been seen by a health care professional.
“No exercise should be painful. If you experience pain, chest pain, or feel faint or dizzy during exercise, you should stop immediately and not restart your exercise programme until you have been seen by a health care professional. “
