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The Relationship between Physical Activity and Long COVID: A Cross-Sectional Study.
Jack Wright1, Sarah L Astill1, Manoj Sivan2,3,4
1School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
Summary
Individuals with Long Covid (LC) experience significantly reduced physical activity (PA) and independence, with most reporting PA worsens their symptoms. This reduction is independent of illness duration, highlighting a need for safe PA guidance.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Long Covid (LC) presents a significant public health challenge with unclear impacts on physical activity (PA).
- Understanding the relationship between LC symptoms and PA is crucial for patient recovery and management.
- Previous research has not fully elucidated how PA affects LC symptoms or the guidance provided to patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between Long Covid symptoms and current physical activity levels.
- To investigate the advice individuals with LC received regarding physical activity.
- To assess the impact of physical activity on Long Covid symptoms and daily living.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 477 adults with Long Covid recruited via social media.
- Utilized an adapted New Zealand physical activity questionnaire short form (NZPAQ-SF) to assess pre- and current-COVID-19 PA levels and activities of daily living (ADLs).
- Collected data on the perceived effect of PA on LC symptoms and recommendations received from healthcare professionals.
Main Results:
- Participants exhibited significantly reduced PA (26.88 min/week vs. 361.68 min/week pre-COVID-19, p < 0.001) and increased need for assistance with ADLs (2.23 days vs. 0.11 days pre-COVID-19, p < 0.001).
- PA reduction and increased ADL assistance needs were independent of Long Covid duration (p > 0.05).
- A majority of participants (74.84%) reported that PA worsened their LC symptoms, while 20.96% reported mixed effects; advice on PA was often contradictory.
Conclusions:
- Long Covid is strongly associated with a marked decrease in physical activity and a loss of independence.
- The majority of individuals with LC experience symptom exacerbation with physical activity, irrespective of illness duration.
- There is a critical need for research to develop safe and effective strategies for returning to physical activity in Long Covid patients, alongside clear guidance from healthcare providers.
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