Personalized aerobic and strength training program Improves Long COVID Symptoms

Groups of about 20 people each participated in one of four intervention types: supervised concurrent exercise, specialty breathing exercises, a combination of concurrent exercise and breathing exercises, or self-guided efforts following the WHO brochure. The concurrent training involved two sessions a week of strength training and light to moderate variable intensity aerobic exercise and one session of light intensity continuous aerobic exercise. All sessions were conducted under medical supervision and directed by certified exercise coaches. To be included in the study, the volunteers needed to participate in at least 20 of the 24 sessions.

Over 80% of the concurrent exercise participants responded well to the intervention. Both groups that included the concurrent training showed greater reductions in long COVID symptoms compared to the other groups. In addition, their fatigue and depression levels improved, and lower and upper body strength increased.

Reference:

Amaya Jimeno-Almazán, Ángel Buendía-Romero, Alejandro Martínez-Cava, Francisco Franco-López, Bernardino Javier Sánchez-Alcaraz, Javier Courel-Ibáñez, and Jesús G. Pallarés https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00489.202