Comparison of the biopsies taken before and after cycling revealed the function of the mitochondria worsened after exercise in those with long Covid, and these participants had far more tissue damage after exercising and signs of the body attempting repairs.
“That can explain, for instance, the muscle pain that these patients are experiencing after exercise,” said Wüst.
He said the findings highlighted that people with long Covid should not undertake intense exercise.
“It damages your muscles, it worsens your metabolism, and it can explain why you feel muscle pain and fatigue up to weeks after the exercise,” he said.
Just want to highlight that "intense exercise" here is used to describe 10-15 minutes on an exercise bicycle.
idk maybe im just a gym rat but when I hear intense exercise I think of a lot more than just that, so important to note that no they found these changes and this impact after only a ten minute cycling workout
Edit: okay the 15 minutes is a FTP test where you're supposed to bike as hard as possible for 15 minutes, that is actually pretty strenuous.
I stg if this is why my physical condition collapsed after that bout with covid I'm gonna fucking scream.
Two of us got the same strain at the same time, myself and a coworker. It permanently disabled her, she can't walk without assistance and travels only with portable oxygen. It beat me down for two weeks, scrambled my brains like a power mixer and quartered my strength & endurance.
I guess I shouldn't be surprised.
