Return to exercise after COVID-19 guidelines

Apologies if these have been posted before, but I just came across them and they seem too important not to share.

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+1 very important

Obviously you should read the review if you actually contracted COVID but here is the final paragraph that has a very general recommendation on returning to training:

As we learned in the 2003 SARS pandemic, COVID-19 patients should be followed closely, especially in the first 3 to 6 months as they return to exercise programs (Table ​(Table1).1). This is true for athletes who have had COVID-19 to any degree. In the initial phases of return to exercise after recovery from mild infection, we recommend a gradual guided activity modification plan such as the 50/30/20/10 rule developed by the National Strength and Conditioning Association and Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association Joint committee for use over a 4-week period [6]. The conditioning volume for the first week is reduced by at least 50% of the normal exercise load, followed by 30%, 20%, and 10% in the following 3 weeks if comfortable at the end of each week. This would be adjusted by the severity of the disease and may require a graduated return to activity occurring over many months rather than weeks [6].

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Related video released today.

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Dr. Jordon Metzl would be my absolute #1 source for this issue. I read that a few days ago, and will gladly refer anyone to it who has these concerns.

Good video. For anyone experiencing long-haul covid as I have, I’d add that you really need to take it easy and respect your body’s need for rest and recovery for however long that takes. It’s not something that you can train your way out of. I’ve only begun to see some modest improvement in the exercise intolerance and fatigue as I hit the eight month mark post-acute infection. I’m a long ways from feeling normal still, and may very well carry some permanent health problems from what I’d describe as a mild case of the illness. But at least I’m finally able to handle some more consistent, light workouts and have stopped requiring 12 hours of sleep nightly plus daytime naps.

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