Effect Of Moderate- And Vigorous-intensity Aerobic And Anaerobic Exercise On A Woman With Post-covid-19 Syndrome

Abstract

Individuals with post-COVID-19 syndrome (long COVID) are subject to a variety of persistent symptoms including sporadic bouts of dyspnea. Both aerobic and anaerobic exercise modalities are effective treatments for the management of other chronic respiratory diseases, but exercise tolerance or benefits in long COVID remains unclear. PURPOSE: The purpose of this case study was to determine if exercise of various intensities and modalities triggered dyspneic episodes in a person with long COVID. METHODS: A woman (44 yrs; 73 kg; BMI 24.4 kg·m-2; resting peripheral blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) 98%) who was infected with COVID-19 in November 2020 followed by persistent and unpredictable bouts of significant dyspnea was tested 8 months post-infection. All tests were performed on the same day and included a graded exercise treadmill test (GXT) at habitual walking speed (1.34 m·sec-1) with an increasing grade of 2% per minute, a 6-min treadmill walking tests at 60% and 80% peak heart rate (HR), one-repetition maximum (1RM) seated leg press, and 8-repetition leg press sets at 50%, 60%, 70%, and 80% 1RM. The order of testing (post-test rest period) were: GXT (10 min); 60% walking (10 min); 80% walking (10 min); 1RM determination (3 min); 50% 1RM, 60% 1RM, 70% 1RM, 80% 1RM (3 min between sets). SpO2 was captured via fingertip pulse oximeter, dyspnea was assessed by the Modified Borg Dyspnea Scale (Borg), and HR was captured using a chest-strap HR monitor. RESULTS: During all aerobic tests the participant maintained normal oxygen saturation (SpO2 range: 95-98%, greatest desaturation during 60% walking at minutes 2 & 6) and did not reach 5 (severe dyspnea) on the Borg (range: 0.5-4, highest rating at peak GXT). Similar results were seen during anaerobic testing (SpO2 range 98-99%, greatest desaturation at 50% & 60% 1RM sets; Borg range 0.5-3, highest rating post-80% 1RM set). CONCLUSION: Acute bouts of moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic or anaerobic exercise did not trigger severe dyspnea in a participant with long COVID prone to episodes of breathlessness. These results suggest that research using moderate or vigorous aerobic or strength training may be feasible for individuals with long COVID to determine whether training adaptation can be safely induced, as seen in other cohorts with chronic respiratory disease.