Return to sport post COVID-19 infection

Chances are you have had COVID-19 or you know someone who has. For many people COVID-19 is a mild respiratory disease affecting multiple body systems. Patients can experience symptoms varying from cough, fatigue, runny nose, fever, aches and pains, losses in taste and smell and sometimes gastro symptoms. But in others this isn’t the case, with hospitalisations more likely in the immunocompromised and elderly populations. There are also cases of what is known as Long COVID where we see ongoing symptoms including fatigue amongst other chronic symptoms.

Recovery from COVID for some can be hard going, and getting back to physical activity is an important part of feeling mobile and healthy again. Having said that, it must be done in a safe and gradual manner. The below information is for those who are considered low risk for complications following return to pre-COVID activity.

Once you are symptom free for 7 days you can gradually return to activity at a. reduced capacity in terms of time, distance and cardiovascular requirements. So it would look something like this:

I walk for 15 minutes at a light pace on an even surface, monitoring my heart rate and breathing rate. I then gradually increase these parameters as symptoms indicate.

This graded return to activity will likely take you about one month to progressively build up to what you were doing pre-COVID.

Red flag symptoms

This means that during your return to activity, should you experience any of these, to be checked by a general practitioner as soon as possible before continuing:

• Chest pain or palpitations

• Breathlessness, out of proportion with expected recovery

• Features of thrombosis, eg swollen calf or sinus tachycardia, breathlessness

While guidelines surrounding COVID are constantly changing as we learn more about the disease and it’s evolution, so too does the advice surrounding it’s management. This information regarding return to activity is taken from the Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians. Please note that this blog is for general information only, and should you wish to return to exercise post COVID-19 safely, it is advisable to contact your trusted health care provider for more information.

Stay safe

Andy and Sam