Physical activity

Patients may feel unsure of how and when to return to physical activity and whether it will be safe. Some patients may already have tried to restart their usual exercise and found they could not. A cautious approach is needed and activity reduced if fever, breathlessness, severe fatigue or muscle aches are experienced. 

The good news is that even brief periods of activity are effective for improving health. Household and garden tasks all contribute and gradual participation in walking can be a place to start. Patients should be advised to: 

• Start small and build gradually. Don’t expect your body to do what it used to be able to do immediately
• Try not to compare yourself to how you were before you were ill – instead compare yourself to how you were last week
• Pace yourself. Don’t expect to return immediately to your normal levels of activity it will take time to build up
Your recovery will be up and down – there will be better days and worse days, so try not to feel down on the bad ones.

(Source: Moving Medicine website: Covid Recovery Tips)