The Impact of Physical Activity on Long COVID Symptoms Among College Students: A Retrospective Study

Millions worldwide suffer from long COVID, which affects daily life and impairs multiple organs. Younger adults report symptoms more frequently than older adults. Since physical activity enhances overall health, this study examines whether regular exercise reduces long COVID severity in college students. This cross-sectional retrospective study surveyed 309 teacher-training college students about their long COVID symptoms and physical activity levels. Participants were categorized based on activity levels, and symptom differences were analyzed. Among respondents, 44 (14.4%) reported long COVID symptoms, with fatigue being the most common (13.3%). Students engaging in regular, intense physical activity did not experience fewer symptoms than less active students (1.83 ± 0.85; 1.75 ± 0.89, p = 0.376). However, physical education students reported fewer symptoms than students in other programs (6.7% vs. 17.4%). Greater self-reported participation in physical activity was not associated with less reported long COVID symptoms among college-aged students; however, students enrolled in physical education programs-who integrate physical activity into their daily routines as part of their academic curriculum-reported fewer symptoms, suggesting that sustained, structured physical activity may contribute to reduced symptom burden. Further research is needed to explore this relationship.