Australian journal of general practice
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Jewson, McNamara & Fitzpatrick describe a roadmap for return to activity after COVID infection, developed by the Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians.
They consider three risk categories:
Low: Under 50 years with mild illness resolving within 7 days.
Intermediate: prolonged symptoms (>7d); persistent SOB or chest pain; pre-existing comorbidities; elite/endurance athletes.
- Consider ECG & baseline pathology, including troponin.
High: hospitalised with COVID; SOB or chest pain at rest; cardiac abnormalities.
- Multi-disciplinary team to advise & monitor return to exercise.
Graded return to physical activity
- Begin after 10 days of rest and when 7 days symptom-free.
- Begin with 15 minutes of light activity, with gradual increase guided by lack of fatigue with activity.
- 🚩Red flag symptoms: chest pain, palpitations, severe dyspnoea. STOP & medical review.
Return to exercise flowchart:
summary