Publication date: May 26, 2025
Background/Objective: Fatigue is one of the most recurrent and most disabling symptoms of long COVID (LC) and is associated with a worse quality of life. Reducing body fat in these patients could be important to mitigate fatigue and post-exertional worsening. Aerobic exercise may not be indicated in LC patients who have orthostatic tachycardia and post-exertional worsening. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a personalized supine therapeutic motor control exercise program on fatigue and fat tissue in women with LC. Methods: A single-arm exploratory case study, with a pre-post format, was conducted on 17 women with LC to test the effects of a plank-based strengthening exercise program on fatigue, which was evaluated by the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale and fat tissue assessed by bioimpedance. The twelve-week program included two weekly sessions. The exercise program was personalized, considering the symptoms and characteristics of the patients. Results: Participants with overweight or obesity (n = 12) comprised 70% of the entire sample. After completing the exercise program this value decreased by 5. 9 percentage points. Significant differences were found in the total [(MD = -1. 72, 95% CI -2. 57 to -0. 86), r = 0. 73], trunk, upper and inner limbs body fat percentages (p < 0. 05). The overall fatigue decreased at 12 weeks [(MD = -14. 00, 95% CI -21. 69 to -6. 31), r = 0. 69] as well as the physical and psychosocial fatigue sub-scale (p < 0. 001); no differences were observed in the cognitive sub-scale. Conclusions: The plank-based personalized strengthening exercise program showed rapid improvements in fatigue and fat percentages. It could be an effective strategy to achieve improvements for LC patients.
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| Concepts | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Bioimpedance | body fat distribution |
| Covid | exercise therapy |
| Obesity | fatigue |
| Weekly | post-acute COVID-19 syndrome |
| Women |