Resistance Exercise for Long COVID — Improved Exercise Tolerance, Quality of Life

Background: Persistent symptoms after COVID-19 infection, or long COVID, remains an unmet therapeutic need. While some data suggest a role for exercise interventions, high quality evidence is lacking. Objective: To evaluate the effects of a resistance exercise intervention (REI) on exercise capacity and health status for patients with persistent symptoms after COVID-19 infection. Design: Prospective, multicenter randomized trial (2021–2024), comparing a REI versus usual care. Participants/Methods: Participants had a diagnosis of COVID-19 within the preceding 12 months, with persistent symptoms for ≥4 weeks from onset. They were categorized into 3 groups: no prior hospitalization (group A), after hospital discharge (group B), or convalescing in the hospital after infection (group C). Patients were excluded if they were engaged in physiotherapy or were unable to comply with the protocol. Participants randomized to the REI received a customized program for 3 months and were asked to com more...