Exercise is the Most Important Medicine for COVID-19

Georgia Torres; Demitri Constantinou; Philippe Gradidge; Deepak Patel; Jon Patricios

doi:10.1249/JSR.0000000000001092

Exercise is the Most Important Medicine for COVID-19

Curr Sports Med Rep. 2023 Aug 1;22(8):284-289. doi: 10.1249/JSR.0000000000001092.

Authors

Georgia Torres¹, Demitri Constantinou¹, Philippe Gradidge¹, Deepak Patel², Jon Patricios³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
² Division of Sports & Exercise Medicine, Department of Family Medicine & Primary Care, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
³ Wits Sport and Health (WiSH), School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

PMID: 37549214
DOI: 10.1249/JSR.0000000000001092

Abstract

COVID-19 infection and long COVID affect multiple organ systems, including the respiratory, cardiovascular, renal, digestive, neuroendocrine, musculoskeletal systems, and sensory organs. Exerkines, released during exercise, have a potent crosstalk effect between multiple body systems. This review describes the evidence of how exerkines can mitigate the effects of COVID-19 in each organ system that the virus affects. The evidence presented in the review suggests that exercise should be considered a first-line strategy in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 infection and long COVID disease.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

COVID-19*
Exercise
Humans
Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome