Post-COVID-19 Syndrome and the Potential Benefits of Exercise

Amaya Jimeno-Almazán, Jesús G. Pallarés, Ángel Buendía-Romero, Alejandro Martínez-Cava, Francisco Franco-López, Bernardino J. Sánchez-Alcaraz Martínez, Enrique Bernal-Morel and Javier Courel-Ibáñez
Additional contact information
Amaya Jimeno-Almazán: Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Universitario Santa Lucía, Cartagena, 30202 Murcia, Spain
Jesús G. Pallarés: Human Performance & Sport Sciences Laboratory, University of Murcia, 30720 Murcia, Spain
Ángel Buendía-Romero: Human Performance & Sport Sciences Laboratory, University of Murcia, 30720 Murcia, Spain
Alejandro Martínez-Cava: Human Performance & Sport Sciences Laboratory, University of Murcia, 30720 Murcia, Spain
Francisco Franco-López: Human Performance & Sport Sciences Laboratory, University of Murcia, 30720 Murcia, Spain
Bernardino J. Sánchez-Alcaraz Martínez: Department of Physical Activity and Sport, University of Murcia, 30720 Murcia, Spain
Enrique Bernal-Morel: Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital General Universitario Reina Sofía, University of Murcia, IMIB, 30003 Murcia, Spain
Javier Courel-Ibáñez: Human Performance & Sport Sciences Laboratory, University of Murcia, 30720 Murcia, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 10, 1-16

Abstract: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, is leading to unknown and unusual health conditions that are challenging to manage. Post-COVID-19 syndrome is one of those challenges, having become increasingly common as the pandemic evolves. The latest estimates suggest that 10 to 20% of the SARS-CoV-2 patients who undergo an acute symptomatic phase are experiencing effects of the disease beyond 12 weeks after diagnosis. Although research is beginning to examine this new condition, there are still serious concerns about the diagnostic identification, which limits the best therapeutic approach. Exercise programs and physical activity levels are well-known modulators of the clinical manifestations and prognosis in many chronic diseases. This narrative review summarizes the up-to-date evidence on post-COVID-19 syndrome to contribute to a better knowledge of the disease and explains how regular exercise may improve many of these symptoms and could reduce the long-term effects of COVID-19.

Keywords: long COVID; post-COVID-19 syndrome; post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC); chronic COVID syndrome (CCS); pneumonia; functional capacity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

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