Symptom-titrated and individualised exercise as medicine post-COVID-19: Call to action published

In a call to action, authors Fabian Schwendinger, MSc and Prof. Arno Schmidt-Trucksäss, MD, recently highlighted the impact of the long-term consequences of COVID-19 (post-COVID-19) on public health and the personal and professional lives of those affected. Furthermore, the current state of scientific research was critically discussed and the necessary next steps towards an evidence-based and individualised treatment method were addressed.

Here are the main points of the publication:

• Post-COVID-19 has far-reaching public health, social and occupational consequences for which there are currently no effective treatments.
• Exercise can be helpful in treating the multiple physiological and psychological consequences of COVID-19, provided it is prescribed appropriately and based on scientific evidence. Studies are needed to investigate the feasibility and safety of different exercise programmes in these patients.
• In our view, exercise therapy must be evidence-based and individually tailored to the needs of the patient. The authors promote exercise as medicine as a treatment option in some patients after COVID-19. The presence of post-exertional malaise or postural-orthostatic tachycardia syndrome needs special consideration.

The full article is freely available in English in the journal Sport & Exercise Medicine Switzerland (SEMS).

Graphical abstract.