Physical activity and sedentariness levels in patients with post-exertional malaise resulting from post-COVID-19 syndrome.
Kamel-Eddine Elkebir, Jo-Anne Gilbert, Thiffya Arabi Kugathasan and 3 others
PMID 40289602WHAT IT FOUND
Among 154 adults at risk for post-COVID post-exertional malaise, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity fell after infection, including work and leisure, while sedentary time rose.
Activity plans should be progressive and include rest.
Key findings
01Moderate-to-vigorous activity at work, leisure and total decreased after COVID-19, and sedentary time increased.
02Women had a significant reduction in work-related moderate-to-vigorous activity after COVID-19.
03Participants at risk on all 5 PEM questions had a significant decrease in work-related moderate-to-vigorous activity after COVID-19.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The data were self-reported in an online questionnaire, so accuracy may be imperfect. Recruitment was through Facebook and targeted an international audience, so the sample may be limited to people reached through that method. The authors note possible inaccuracy of self-reports and use of non-validated questionnaires in English or French. The analysed sample included 21 men and 131 women, so results may not generalise across sexes. Non-PEM participants were too few for comparison, with n = 13. Because this is a cross-sectional survey, it cannot show that activity changes caused PEM.
Declared interests
The project was funded by the University of Montreal faculty of medicine and the Canada Research Chair in Physical Activity and Juvenile Obesity. The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as proof that exercise treats post-COVID post-exertional malaise. It is a self-report survey, so it shows lower activity and higher sedentary time after infection but cannot establish cause or treatment effect.