If you’re like one of the almost 30 million of Americans who developed some form of Covid-19, you want to get back to your healthier self and exercising is one way to do it. How soon is it safe for you to begin a regimen of exercise after covid? There’s no one right answer, just as no two cases of Covid are exactly alike. Even mild cases may have lingering symptoms or show improvement one day and get worse the next. Unlike many illnesses, recovery from covid normally doesn’t show a linear recovery.
Did you have a mild case or severe case of covid.
The aches and pains of a mild form of the disease and disastrous effects of severe cases both require caution. One thing is certain, you will probably tire faster than you did before covid hit. Phase your exercise in slowly. Don’t expect to go to the gym and pick up where you left off, even if the case was mild. Always check with your healthcare professional first to make sure. If your vital signs are good, your health care professional will also look for chronic or acute conditions from covid. Not everyone recovers the same, even if their case was mild. You have to listen to your body.
If you’re having more difficulty returning to your regular fitness regimen, take it slow.
If your doctor gave you the okay to workout, don’t expect to get back to your pre-covid workout immediately. Start with walks, lighter weights and exercises that can help improve breathing and chest expansion. When you feel strong enough to increase your routine to more strenuous workouts, do so. Sometimes even people with mild cases of covid may find they tire or get winded quickly after covid. They should take it easier too.
Severe cases of covid and those that required hospitalization need closer scrutiny.
Always get clearance from your health care specialist before starting any program of exercise. Your doctor may suggest that you take it easy for a while and start with short walk, extending them as you get stronger. Your body will tell you when you’ve done too much. Always start with light intensity exercises, which includes stretching, walking and options like Tai Chi. You should only do activities that you can do without getting short of breath. Do this until you feel ready to move on to the next level. Many people find they’re better one day, only to get winded easier the next. It’s a two-steps-forward-and-one-step-back type of recovery.
- Exercise is important after having covid. Inactivity can cause covid related problems, like blood clots and increase shortness of breath.
- Just as intense activity after having any serious disease and before your body is ready is bad, so is remaining inactive too long. Immobility can do a great deal of damage, too.
- Even people who have had mild cases may find it difficult to workout at the same level they did previously. Easing back slowly and listening to your body is important.
- While you may still exhibit some effects of covid when you’re working out, like shortness of breath or coughing, you’ll probably breathe easier after you’ve finished exercising. Some people find that improvement in breathing can be frustrating, better one day and worse the next.
For more information, contact us today at Habitat Health and Fitness