When Can I Run After Recovering From Coronavirus?

Here are some steps you should take to return to exercise safely,
according to experts.
By Jordan Smith
Sep 17, 2020

when can i run after recovering from coronavirus
Martin NovakGetty Images

This is a rapidly developing situation. For the most up-to-date
information, check resources like the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) and local health guidelines regularly. This story
will be updated as new information becomes available.
__________________________________________________________________

Even if you socially distanced from others on your runs, washed your
hands frequently, and wore a mask in public, there’s still a chance
for contracting COVID-19, especially if you are an essential worker
or are in contact with many people every day. And there have been
enough stories to show that runners and healthy individuals aren’t
exempt.

If you were sick with COVID-19, but now that you’re starting to feel
better, you might be wondering, When can I run after recovering from
coronavirus?

Unfortunately, we still don’t understand every detail about the
long-term effects of COVID-19 on the body, especially organs like the
heart and lungs. That’s why a return to your normal workouts
after recovering from coronavirus should be cautious and gradual.

We tapped Heather Milton, M.S., exercise physiologist supervisor at
NYU Langone Health’s Sports Performance Center; Brian Clark, M.D.,
assistant professor of medicine at the Yale University School of
Medicine, and Patrick Green, M.D., UCHealth general cardiologist
with special interest in sports cardiology to help break down how to
safely return to your runs after you’ve had COVID-19 or experienced
symptoms of the virus.

This is a rapidly developing situation and illness and recovery vary on
an individual basis. Contact your healthcare provider for specific
information based on your own illness and treatment plan.

If you’ve been diagnosed with COVID-19, how long should your break from exercise be?

Right now guidelines are all over the place, which speaks to the fact
that no one really knows the right answer. That being said, a person
should definitely wait until complete recovery from their symptoms.
Keep in mind, however, that this illness sometimes affects people in
multiple phases—you start to feel fine, and then a second phase of
symptoms comes on, Clark says. That’s why, to play it safe, you should
wait 10 to 14 days after total resolution of symptoms before resuming
any normal activity. And, as you start to run or work out again, it
should be a slow resumption, says Milton.

During the time you are ill, this doesn’t mean you should take a total
break from any type of movement. “By rest, we mean not participating in
strenuous exercise, it’s important to keep walking, keep moving,
and stay mobile,” Clark says.

One thing that has been frequent is people who are ill—without any
other risk factors—is getting blood clots, and being immobile
increases the risk for blood clots, Clark explains.
__________________________________________________________________

Stories From Runners Who Had COVID-19

molly demiller
I’m a Former NCAA Runner Who Was Diagnosed With COVID-19. Here’s What
It’s Like Running Again

Read More
gabriela rosas garcia
A Slower Running Pace Told This Doctor She Had COVID-19. Here’s Her
Advice to Other Runners

Read More
clare kane
I Experienced COVID-19 Symptoms—Nearly Three Months Later, I Can Barely
Run Two Miles

Read More
joshua fiske
This 46-Year-Old Marathoner Was Hospitalized With COVID-19. Here’s What
Happened

Read More
__________________________________________________________________

Before exercising again, what precautions should you take?

If you were diagnosed with COVID-19, especially if your illness
required hospitalization, you should consult with a medical
professional. Depending on the severity of your illness, it may also be
beneficial to get an EKG (measures rhythm of the heart), blood tests,
and possibly an echocardiogram (measures the structure and function of
heart). But, it is unlikely that all people who tested COVID-19
positive will be able to get all those tests due to cost or
accessibility, says Clark. For example, an echocardiogram can be
costly, but provides considerably more information because it looks at
the structure of the heart.

“The main reason to have the heart checked out is that we worry about
the rare risk of heart attack or more concerningly, an arrhythmia
(irregular heartbeat) that could lead to sudden cardiac death. This is
going to be incredibly rare but possible,” Clark says.
Related Story
How Do Cardiac Arrest and Heart Attack Differ?

However, there’s not really the same risk with regard to the lungs.
There is not something that would show up on lung function testing that
would help detect a risk for sudden death and, because of that, lung
function testing can be reserved for people who are symptomatic, Clark
explains.

Additionally, if you were on a ventilator, you should work with your
doctor to get an EKG to make sure there are no major changes, says
Milton.

If you were on a ventilator for a short period of time, such as a
couple of days, you don’t necessarily need your lung function checked
out, but if you were on a ventilator for a prolonged period of time,
it’s likely you’ll have an impairment in lung function and could
benefit from lung function testing, Clark explains. Clark suggests
waiting at least three months after the acute illness to get lung
function testing, however, because recovery is slow and this would
allow more time for people to stabilize.
Related Story
I Had COVID-19 Symptoms and Can Barely Run 2 Miles

If you’re a casual runner and had a mild case, it’s probably okay to
wait 10 to 14 days after resolution of symptoms and then resume
exercise with caution. (It’s always a good idea to check with a doctor,
especially if you have any concerns.)

Most people who are asymptomatic or had mild symptoms can resume
exercise without consulting their physician, Green says. But if
symptoms were severe or you were hospitalized, consult with your
physician. The American College of Cardiology suggests those with
pre-existing conditions consult with a doctor before any return to
exercise.

If you’ve been diagnosed with COVID-19, how should you return to exercise safely?

Though there isn’t great evidence on return to sport protocol,
starting up again at no more than 50 percent of your baseline pace and
distance is likely the way to go, says Clark. You’ll want to monitor
how you feel once you start out. You should expect exercise to feel
harder and worse than you’re used to after a combination of being ill
and an extended period of rest.
Related Story
Should You Wear a Mask While Running?

After starting at 50 percent of your base, as you feel up to it, you
can gradually increase your exercise intensity and distance weekly.
Both Clark and Milton suggest increasing intensity/mileage by about 10
percent each week until you are back to your normal training base.

Join Runner’s World+ for more health and wellness tips! 🏃🏃‍♀️

What are some signs you should back off your exercise once starting again?

Exercise may not feel good right away due to deconditioning from
time away from exercise as well as possible lingering effects of the
virus. If you have more shortness of breath than you would expect, or
chest discomfort to heart palpitations, consult with your physician,
Green says.

So if your workouts are tolerable but challenging, and you can maintain
the same effort over period of time until it feels easier, you’re
likely feeling the effects of deconditioning.

But it’s easy to mistake deconditioning with still being sick, says
Clark.
Related Story
Here’s What Doctors Mean by “Shortness of Breath”

“Some clues to look for—chest pain, fainting or feeling like you’re
going to faint, all mean mean stop instantly, do not pass go, and go
right to your doctor,” Clark says.

Shortness of breath comes with feeling out of shape, and runs or
workouts feeling harder also may just be due to being out of shape.
If these feelings are mild and don’t cause a lot of distress, it’s okay
to keep going to improve your conditioning. With consistent, slow and
steady training, every week you should be feeling better. If you aren’t
that’s when it’s time to check in with your doctor.
__________________________________________________________________

More Run-Related Coronavirus Resources

running during coronavirus
How to Run Safely Amid Coronavirus Concerns

Read More
Running, Recreation, Outdoor recreation, Jogging, Exercise, Individual
sports, Leg, Athlete, Sports, Photography, How to Stretch Your Training
If Your Goal Race Was Postponed Due to Coronavirus

Read More
coronavirus lung damage
What Runners Should Know About How Coronavirus May Affect Their Lungs

Read More
Sports, Running, Marathon, Long-distance running, Outdoor recreation,
Athletics, Recreation, Individual sports, Athlete, Duathlon, What
Runners Need to Know About Coronavirus

Read More
__________________________________________________________________

Should I be worried about myocarditis?

The concern for myocarditis—inflammation of the middle layer of the
heart wall—is that this can cause long-term scar in the heart muscle,
which can be a source for potentially fatal heart rhythm problems down
the road, Green says. The condition can lead to heart failure,
abnormal heartbeat, or even sudden death.
Related Story
Exercising With COVID-19 Can Be a Dangerous Combo

There does appear to be a higher incidence of myocarditis seen with
COVID-19 than we see with other respiratory viruses. That incidence
isn’t fully known. It is thought myocarditis is more common in more
severe cases (those typically requiring hospitalization) and less
likely to occur in asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic cases, says
Green.

However, a recent study published in JAMA Cardiology using MRI to
assess for myocarditis found a high incidence of myocarditis in both
hospitalized cases and cases that did not need hospitalization.

If you weren’t diagnosed with COVID-19, but were ill and exhibited symptoms, what should you do when it comes to time off?

Even if you weren’t diagnosed and had mild symptoms similar to those of
COVID-19, it’s still a good idea to take two weeks off after your
symptoms resolve, then return slowly to exercise, Milton says. Whether
you had a confirmed diagnosis or symptoms, you should start up
gradually, again no more than 50 percent of your baseline pace and
distance.

One thing for runners to note, according to Joshua Zeichner, M.D.,
Director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research in Dermatology at Mount
Sinai Hospital in New York City, is that one of the skin manifestations
of COVID-19 is a phenomenon known as COVID toes. Patients develop
bruise-like spots on the toes thought to be caused by inflammation or
impaired circulation of the blood vessels. Runners, especially those
who sometimes experience bruised toenails should check in with
their doctors if they notice any concerning bruising or rashes on their
feet.

Zeichner says he is cautious in giving patients with COVID toes the
all-clear to run, given the potential trauma to the feet in the setting
of compromised blood flow. (Additionally, other doctors have found that
COVID and exercise can be a bad combination.) Experts recommend
working with your doctor or a sports cardiologist before participating
in any strenuous exercise.

If you aren’t exhibiting symptoms but were exposed to someone who
tested positive, you should self-isolate and get a test if possible.
__________________________________________________________________

Best Face Coverings for Running

Kitsbow Face Mask
Most Secure
Kitsbow Face Mask
kitsbow.com
$24.95
SHOP NOW
320ink MaskUp By 320
Most Comfortable
320ink MaskUp By 320
square.site
$25.00
SHOP NOW
Boco Gear Face Mask
Most Lightweight
Boco Gear Face Mask
bocogear.com
$11.99
SHOP NOW
Oiselle Lux Gaiter
Most Convenient
Oiselle Lux Gaiter
oiselle.com
$26.00
Jordan Smith Digital Editor Her love of all things outdoors came
from growing up in the Black Hills of South Dakota, and her passion for
running was sparked by local elementary school cross-country meets.
This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported
onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be
able to find more information about this and similar content at
piano.io
--- up 3 weeks, 3 days, 6 hours, 51 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (24:150/1)