Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome (PACS) and Exercise Interventions: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Abstract

The aim of this systematic review (PROSPERO registration number CRD42024517069) was to investigate the effectiveness of exercise interventions in Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome (PACS). We searched on several databases and followed the PRISMA guidelines (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). We included randomized controlled trials that evaluate exercise interventions in adults (40–60 years old) diagnosed with PACS. The outcomes of interest were health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and functional fitness. Twenty studies were included after screening. Thirteen and fourteen studies were rated as “low” risk for HRQoL and functional fitness outcomes, respectively. Based on the evidence, an 8-week exercise protocol of aerobic training in combination with strength-based and breathing exercises was found to be safe and feasible while improving quality of life and functional fitness in people with PACS. Telerehabilitation can also be an option to avoid contagion and physical contact with the same beneficial effects. Future research should expand the knowledge about other types of exercise (i.e., water-based exercises) with high-quality trials and consider whether findings could be potentially transferable to recovery from a wider spectrum of viral infections.