Physical Activity in Long COVID: A Comparative Study of Exercise Rehabilitation Benefits in Patients with Long COVID, Coronary Artery Disease and Fibromyalgia

Claire Colas (), Yann Le Berre, Marie Fanget, Angélique Savall, Martin Killian, Ivan Goujon, Pierre Labeix, Manon Bayle, Léonard Féasson, Frederic Roche and David Hupin
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Claire Colas: Department of Clinical and Exercise Physiology, University Hospital Center of Saint-Etienne, 42000 Saint-Etienne, France
Yann Le Berre: Department of Clinical and Exercise Physiology, University Hospital Center of Saint-Etienne, 42000 Saint-Etienne, France
Marie Fanget: Department of Clinical and Exercise Physiology, University Hospital Center of Saint-Etienne, 42000 Saint-Etienne, France
Angélique Savall: INSERM, U1059, DVH Team, SAINBIOSE, Jean Monnet University, 42000 Saint-Etienne, France
Martin Killian: Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Center of Saint-Etienne, 42000 Saint-Etienne, France
Ivan Goujon: Department of Clinical and Exercise Physiology, University Hospital Center of Saint-Etienne, 42000 Saint-Etienne, France
Pierre Labeix: Department of Clinical and Exercise Physiology, University Hospital Center of Saint-Etienne, 42000 Saint-Etienne, France
Manon Bayle: Department of Clinical and Exercise Physiology, University Hospital Center of Saint-Etienne, 42000 Saint-Etienne, France
Léonard Féasson: Department of Clinical and Exercise Physiology, University Hospital Center of Saint-Etienne, 42000 Saint-Etienne, France
Frederic Roche: Department of Clinical and Exercise Physiology, University Hospital Center of Saint-Etienne, 42000 Saint-Etienne, France
David Hupin: Department of Clinical and Exercise Physiology, University Hospital Center of Saint-Etienne, 42000 Saint-Etienne, France

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 15, 1-14

Abstract: Exercise in long COVID is poorly studied. Nevertheless, exerciserehabilitation could improve cardiorespiratory, muscular and autonomic functions. We aimed to investigate improvement in physical and autonomic performances of long COVID patients ( n = 38) after a 4-week exercise rehabilitation program (3 sessions/week) compared to two control groups composed of coronary artery disease ( n = 38) and fibromyalgia patients ( n = 38), two populations for whom exercise benefits are well known. Efficacy of exercise training was assessed by a cardiopulmonary exercise test, a handgrip force test, and a supine heart rate variability recording at rest before and after the rehabilitation program. Cardiorespiratory and muscular parameters were enhanced after exercise rehabilitation in the three groups ( p < 0.001). No significant difference was observed for the autonomic variables. Through this comparative study with control groups, we confirm and reinforce the interest of caring for long COVID patients without post-exertional symptom exacerbation by exercise rehabilitation of both strength and endurance training, by personalizing the program to the patient and symptoms.

Keywords: long COVID; exercise; rehabilitation; secondary prevention; comparative study; coronary artery disease; fibromyalgia; post-exertional symptom exacerbation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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