COVID-19 and the impact of physical activity on persistent symptoms
IntroductionPhysical activity is protective against chronic disease but whether activity is associated with persistent symptoms in non-hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) survivors is unknown. The purpose of the study was to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical acti...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1560023/full |
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| author | Lauren E. Opielinski Toni D. Uhrich Toni D. Uhrich Toni D. Uhrich Michael H. Haischer Michael H. Haischer Rachel N. Beilfuss Lindsey M. Mirkes Clark Lindsey M. Mirkes Clark Kamryn M. Kroner Rachel E. Bollaert Michael J. Danduran Linda B. Piacentine Linda B. Piacentine Marie Hoeger Bement Paula E. Papanek Sandra K. Hunter Sandra K. Hunter |
| author_facet | Lauren E. Opielinski Toni D. Uhrich Toni D. Uhrich Toni D. Uhrich Michael H. Haischer Michael H. Haischer Rachel N. Beilfuss Lindsey M. Mirkes Clark Lindsey M. Mirkes Clark Kamryn M. Kroner Rachel E. Bollaert Michael J. Danduran Linda B. Piacentine Linda B. Piacentine Marie Hoeger Bement Paula E. Papanek Sandra K. Hunter Sandra K. Hunter |
| author_sort | Lauren E. Opielinski |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionPhysical activity is protective against chronic disease but whether activity is associated with persistent symptoms in non-hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) survivors is unknown. The purpose of the study was to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity levels and the influence of physical activity on acute COVID-19 and long COVID symptoms in non-hospitalized COVID-19 survivors.MethodsIn total, 64 non-hospitalized COVID-19 survivors (45 female participants, 40 ± 18 years) were assessed for activity levels, body composition, and symptoms of COVID-19 8.5 ± 4.7 months post-infection and categorized into two groups: (1) persistent symptoms and (2) no symptoms at the time of testing. Furthermore, 43 of the 64 participants (28 female participants, 46 ± 18 years) completed a follow-up questionnaire online 51.0 ± 39.7 months (4.25 years) post-infection. A subset of 22 COVID-19 survivors (16 female participants, 35 ± 16 years) were matched for age, sex, and body mass index with healthy controls. Physical activity was quantified using (1) self-reported questionnaire (International Physical Activity Questionnaire; IPAQ-SF) at three time periods; prior to COVID-19 infection, at the time of laboratory testing (8.5 ± 4.7 months after infection), and during an online follow-up (51.0 ± 39.7 months, i.e., 4.25 years after infection); and (2) 7 days of wearing an ActiGraph accelerometer following laboratory testing.ResultsPhysical activity (IPAQ-SF) declined in COVID-19 survivors from pre-COVID-19 infection to 8.5 ± 4.7 months after infection [3,656 vs. 2,656 metabolic equivalent of task (MET) min/week, 27% decrease, p < 0.001, n = 64] and rebounded to levels similar to pre-COVID-19 infection at 4.25 years after infection (p = 0.068, n = 43). Activity levels quantified with accelerometry did not differ between COVID-19 survivors and controls. However, COVID-19 survivors who reported persistent symptoms 8.5 months after infection (n = 29) engaged in less moderate-vigorous physical activity and steps/day than those without persistent symptoms (n = 27) (37 vs. 49 MET min/day, p = 0.014 and 7,915 vs. 9,540 steps/day, p = 0.014).DiscussionBoth COVID-19 survivors and matched controls reported reductions in physical activity indicating that lower levels of activity were likely due to the pandemic rather than COVID-19 infection alone. However, those who were most affected by COVID-19 infection with persistent symptoms had the greatest reductions in physical activity, even at ∼8 months and ∼4 years post-infection. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a7cc07a433594330ae1dbc03929cb94f |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2624-9367 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
| spelling | doaj-art-a7cc07a433594330ae1dbc03929cb94f2025-08-20T03:13:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sports and Active Living2624-93672025-04-01710.3389/fspor.2025.15600231560023COVID-19 and the impact of physical activity on persistent symptomsLauren E. Opielinski0Toni D. Uhrich1Toni D. Uhrich2Toni D. Uhrich3Michael H. Haischer4Michael H. Haischer5Rachel N. Beilfuss6Lindsey M. Mirkes Clark7Lindsey M. Mirkes Clark8Kamryn M. Kroner9Rachel E. Bollaert10Michael J. Danduran11Linda B. Piacentine12Linda B. Piacentine13Marie Hoeger Bement14Paula E. Papanek15Sandra K. Hunter16Sandra K. Hunter17Exercise Science Program, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, United StatesExercise Science Program, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, United StatesAthletic and Human Performance Research Center, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, United StatesDepartment of Physical Therapy, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, United StatesExercise Science Program, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, United StatesAthletic and Human Performance Research Center, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, United StatesDepartment of Physical Therapy, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, United StatesExercise Science Program, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, United StatesCollege of Nursing, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, United StatesExercise Science Program, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, United StatesExercise Science Program, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, United StatesExercise Science Program, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, United StatesAthletic and Human Performance Research Center, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, United StatesCollege of Nursing, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, United StatesDepartment of Physical Therapy, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, United StatesExercise Science Program, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, United StatesExercise Science Program, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, United StatesAthletic and Human Performance Research Center, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, United StatesIntroductionPhysical activity is protective against chronic disease but whether activity is associated with persistent symptoms in non-hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) survivors is unknown. The purpose of the study was to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity levels and the influence of physical activity on acute COVID-19 and long COVID symptoms in non-hospitalized COVID-19 survivors.MethodsIn total, 64 non-hospitalized COVID-19 survivors (45 female participants, 40 ± 18 years) were assessed for activity levels, body composition, and symptoms of COVID-19 8.5 ± 4.7 months post-infection and categorized into two groups: (1) persistent symptoms and (2) no symptoms at the time of testing. Furthermore, 43 of the 64 participants (28 female participants, 46 ± 18 years) completed a follow-up questionnaire online 51.0 ± 39.7 months (4.25 years) post-infection. A subset of 22 COVID-19 survivors (16 female participants, 35 ± 16 years) were matched for age, sex, and body mass index with healthy controls. Physical activity was quantified using (1) self-reported questionnaire (International Physical Activity Questionnaire; IPAQ-SF) at three time periods; prior to COVID-19 infection, at the time of laboratory testing (8.5 ± 4.7 months after infection), and during an online follow-up (51.0 ± 39.7 months, i.e., 4.25 years after infection); and (2) 7 days of wearing an ActiGraph accelerometer following laboratory testing.ResultsPhysical activity (IPAQ-SF) declined in COVID-19 survivors from pre-COVID-19 infection to 8.5 ± 4.7 months after infection [3,656 vs. 2,656 metabolic equivalent of task (MET) min/week, 27% decrease, p < 0.001, n = 64] and rebounded to levels similar to pre-COVID-19 infection at 4.25 years after infection (p = 0.068, n = 43). Activity levels quantified with accelerometry did not differ between COVID-19 survivors and controls. However, COVID-19 survivors who reported persistent symptoms 8.5 months after infection (n = 29) engaged in less moderate-vigorous physical activity and steps/day than those without persistent symptoms (n = 27) (37 vs. 49 MET min/day, p = 0.014 and 7,915 vs. 9,540 steps/day, p = 0.014).DiscussionBoth COVID-19 survivors and matched controls reported reductions in physical activity indicating that lower levels of activity were likely due to the pandemic rather than COVID-19 infection alone. However, those who were most affected by COVID-19 infection with persistent symptoms had the greatest reductions in physical activity, even at ∼8 months and ∼4 years post-infection.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1560023/fullCOVID-19physical activitypersistent symptomsaccelerometerlong COVIDhealthy control |
| spellingShingle | Lauren E. Opielinski Toni D. Uhrich Toni D. Uhrich Toni D. Uhrich Michael H. Haischer Michael H. Haischer Rachel N. Beilfuss Lindsey M. Mirkes Clark Lindsey M. Mirkes Clark Kamryn M. Kroner Rachel E. Bollaert Michael J. Danduran Linda B. Piacentine Linda B. Piacentine Marie Hoeger Bement Paula E. Papanek Sandra K. Hunter Sandra K. Hunter COVID-19 and the impact of physical activity on persistent symptoms Frontiers in Sports and Active Living COVID-19 physical activity persistent symptoms accelerometer long COVID healthy control |
| title | COVID-19 and the impact of physical activity on persistent symptoms |
| title_full | COVID-19 and the impact of physical activity on persistent symptoms |
| title_fullStr | COVID-19 and the impact of physical activity on persistent symptoms |
| title_full_unstemmed | COVID-19 and the impact of physical activity on persistent symptoms |
| title_short | COVID-19 and the impact of physical activity on persistent symptoms |
| title_sort | covid 19 and the impact of physical activity on persistent symptoms |
| topic | COVID-19 physical activity persistent symptoms accelerometer long COVID healthy control |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1560023/full |
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