Exercise is the Most Important Medicine for COVID-19

Area of Science:

• Exercise physiology
• Immunology
• Pathophysiology of viral infections

Background:

• COVID-19 and long COVID impact multiple organ systems, leading to diverse and persistent symptoms.
• Exerkines, bioactive compounds released during physical activity, mediate inter-organ communication.
• Understanding the role of exerkines in combating viral sequelae is crucial for developing effective therapeutic strategies.

Approach:

• This review synthesizes existing scientific literature on the physiological effects of exerkines.
• It examines the evidence linking exerkine action to the mitigation of COVID-19-related organ damage.
• The review focuses on exerkine crosstalk across respiratory, cardiovascular, renal, digestive, neuroendocrine, musculoskeletal, and sensory systems.

Key Points:

• Exerkines demonstrate potential in counteracting the multi-systemic damage caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection.
• Specific exerkines may target inflammatory pathways and promote tissue repair in affected organs.
• The systemic effects of exercise, mediated by exerkines, offer a promising avenue for therapeutic intervention.

Conclusions:

• Exercise and its associated exerkines represent a viable, non-pharmacological approach for managing COVID-19 and long COVID.
• Incorporating exercise into prevention and treatment protocols could significantly improve patient outcomes.
• Further research into exerkine mechanisms will refine exercise-based therapies for post-viral syndromes.