The vast majority of people suffering from COVID-19 feel its effects for several months after recovery. Some people still feel very tired even a year later. The latest – albeit small – studies show that they can be combated with exercise.
Exercise as a remedy for fatigue after COVID-19
Researchers from the National Institute for Health Research in Leicester, UK, were looking for solutions that would be helpful for patients who suffer the effects of the coronavirus for a long time.
A small study involved a group of 30 patients, each of whom underwent a six-week rehabilitation program – two sessions per week. “The research group was a mixed group of patients who were hospitalized in the intensive care unit and several community patients,” says one of the authors of the project, Prof. Sally Singh, head of the Cardiac and Pulmonary Therapy Unit at Leicester Hospital.
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The doctor adds that, based on existing research, exercise helps reduce fatigue in people who have been suffering from COVID-19 for a long time. This is especially true for patients who have spent a long time in bed and have lost muscle mass.
The program consisted of exercises to improve respiratory performance, such as walking on a treadmill, strength training for the upper and lower limbs. The subjects were also offered educational courses on breathing problems, fatigue, anxiety and return to work.
Better performance, less fatigue
Research has shown that exercise helps people who struggle with COVID-19 symptoms for a long time. They are more efficient, respiratory problems are milder, and cognitive skills are improved.
Most importantly, you can reduce your fatigue by up to five points on the FACTIC Fatigue Rating Scale in just six weeks. The FACTIC scale has 52 points. Before the program, patients had more than 30 points. Thanks to exercises, they stopped feeling tired, and smaller and smaller values began to appear on the scale. And the more points you get, the more you get tired.
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In addition, the study also used the so-called a graded pendulum walk test that showed that patient outcomes improved by 112 meters.
However, researchers note that exercise is not an ideal solution for everyone. The research is still in its infancy and will continue for a few more months. However, they believe that these early results should be shared as they can help other researchers.
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