Physical exercise is effective in combating persistent COVID

2025/05/13 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Medikuntza
• Osasuna
• COVID-19

Exercise can be an effective tool to improve the functional status, quality of life and various symptoms of people with persistent COVID. This is the conclusion of the doctoral thesis recently defended by the physiotherapist Nora García Alonso at the Public University of Navarra (UPNA). Research shows that an adapted exercise program that combines strength and power exercises helps reduce fatigue, increase functional capacity, and improve mood among those with this disease.

The study was carried out in Navarrabiomed with about a hundred participants. The project has been called EXER-COVID and has included the evaluation of the effects of a combined strength and power training program adapted to the patient in aspects such as cardiac and respiratory capacity, muscle strength, symptoms of persistent COVID, quality of life and mental health. The participants noted improvements in all aspects. Garcia has been shown to reduce symptoms such as weakness, dyspnea or shortness of breath, memory loss, and stress, among others. Therefore, the author reiterates that they have obtained evidence for its application in clinical practice.The research team published the results in the European Heart Journal.