"The Impact of Long COVID on Exercise: Understanding Post-Exertional Malaise"

New research on long COVID patients shows that exercise can lead to worsening symptoms due to widespread abnormalities in muscle tissue, including compromised mitochondria, severe muscle damage, altered immune response, and microclots. The study compared long COVID patients to healthy controls and found evidence of cellular energy system dysfunction, muscle atrophy, immune cell infiltration, and elevated microclots. Experts caution against the traditional approach of prescribing exercise for these patients and recommend alternative strategies such as "autonomic rehabilitation" to manage symptoms.