Resistance Training Shows Promise for Long COVIDโค Recovery
A โthree-month resistance exercise program โdeveloped by researchers at the University of Glasgow (United Kingdom) has demonstrated significant โimprovements โin both physical and mental โคhealth for individuals experiencing โpersistent symptoms following a COVID-19 infection, including those โwho previouslyโค had severe cases. The findings, โขpresented at the 2025 Annual Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association and published in JAMA Network, reveal thatโ participants engaging โin โthe program experienced increased grip strength, improved quality of life, and reduced โคanxiety and depression compared to thoseโ who did not participate.
The study,โ a collaboration betweenโข the University of Glasgow, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, the University of Dundee,โฃ and NHS โTayside, involved over โ 230 people previously diagnosed with COVID-19, whether treated inโข a primary care setting or a โขhospital. Participants were randomly assigned to โeither a resistance training group or โขa control group. The exercise programโค consisted of three categories of exercises, tailoredโค to โeachโ individual’s โขhealth statusโ and capacity.
The program was designed for accessibility, starting with exercises โคperformed lying down forโ those who were bedridden, progressing to sitting or standing exercises as participants recovered. โข Initially focusing on upper body strength,lower body exercises โwere gradually โincorporated starting in the third โweek.
“Our study demonstratesโฃ the benefits of resistance training in recovery from Covid-19 and suggests that โpeopleโ affected by persistentโ symptoms after Covid-19 could benefit from adopting this type of exercise,” explained Professor colinโฃ Berry, principal investigator of the CISCO studyโฃ and โฃProfessor of โขCardiology โฃand Imaging at the University ofโ Glasgow. He further emphasized that these results are an “encouraging advance” contributing to a better understanding โคof long COVID treatment.
Participants in โขthe resistance training group also showed a “significantly greater” ability to walk longer distances in a shuttle walking test after three months.
According to Professor Stuartโข Gray,โค lead designer of the exercise intervention and Professor โคof Muscle and Metabolic Health at theโ University of Glasgow, “The exercises were designed to be safe, simple and easy to perform where and when it was โmost โคconvenient for the โคparticipant, meaning they can be easily implemented in the long-COVID community.” He described the positive โoutcomes as “extremely encouraging,” highlighting the program’s effectiveness in improving physical function, mentalโฃ health, and overall quality of โlife.