Physical Activity and Post-COVID/Long-COVID

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The current COVID-19 pandemic is the most severe health crisis of the 21st century to date. This does not refer solely to the deaths that have occurred. A significant proportion of people who were affected by COVID-19 and supposedly recovered may suffer from long lasting sequelae. If symptoms persist for three months or more after the acute phase of the disease, the condition is referred to as Post-COVID-19 syndrome or Long-COVID-19. It is estimated that about 20% of all infected individuals are affected. The most common symptoms are fatigue, breathing difficulties, persistent loss of smell and taste, muscle pain, and neuropsychological complaints such as depression, anxiety disorders, sleep disturbances, or difficulty concentrating. Furthermore, many affected persons state that their physical performance is still limited since the COVID-19 disease.

Given the novelty of the condition, there is little evidence on the treatment of Post-COVID/Long-COVID. Physical activity has been established as a therapeutic tool for similar chronic conditions. For example, exercise can have positive effects on the health status of individuals with pulmonary disease, depression, anxiety disorders, sleep disorders, and cognitive deficits. However, particular caution has to be taken when symptoms such as exercise intolerance (post-exertional malaise; PEM) and severe fatigue suggest the presence of post-viral fatigue or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). In this case, referral to specialty outpatient clinics is advised.

It can be assumed that a subgroup of individuals affected by Post-COVID/Long-COVID who do not experience worsening of symptoms after physical, emotional or cognitive stress may benefit from physical activity. It is particularly important that both the volume and intensity of the exercise is increased slowly and progressively.

The research project "Physical Activity and Post-COVID/Long-COVID" will investigate the effects of different types of training (endurance vs. concurrent training vs. home-based training) on various health parameters in affected individuals. 

After the successful completion of a randomized controlled intervention study, another intervention group, which performs the training independently from home, will now be investigated. This will be a combination of strength training composed of body weight and resistance band exercises and endurance training in predefined heart rate ranges. Participants will be trained on site in our research laboratory (NuTraLab, Zieglergasse 6, 1060 Vienna) and will subsequently be supervised by the study staff by means of independent recording and logging of the training sessions as well as regular telephone calls.