A new study offers hope for people struggling with post-COVID syndrome, often called long COVID.
Researchers have found that exercise could help restore a healthier, better-regulated immune system in these patients.
The findings come from a gold-standard randomized controlled trial, presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Amsterdam.
The research was led by Professor Nicolette Bishop from Loughborough University in the UK, with results presented by Dr. Enya Daynes.
Dr. Daynes explained that people with post-COVID syndrome often show signs of immune system problems.
Instead of simply protecting the body from infections, their immune system can become overactive or misdirected.
This immune “confusion” can cause ongoing inflammation, leading to symptoms such as fatigue, joint pain, and feeling generally unwell. Many of these issues overlap with what patients describe as long COVID.
The trial involved 31 patients who had been hospitalized with COVID and were later diagnosed with post-COVID syndrome.
Some were randomly chosen to take part in an eight-week rehabilitation program that included treadmill walking, cycling, and strength training. Others received standard medical care.
At the end of the program, researchers found striking differences. Those who exercised showed big improvements in certain immune cells compared to the control group.
These included “naïve” immune cells, which are crucial for detecting and fighting new infections. They also showed gains in “memory” immune cells, such as CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. These memory cells help the body respond faster and more effectively to infections it has encountered before—including COVID—and can provide long-lasting protection.
According to Dr. Daynes, exercise seems to help the immune system in several ways. It improves blood flow, which allows immune cells to move more freely and detect threats.
It also helps immune cells communicate better with each other, boosts the production of new cells, and reduces harmful chronic inflammation. Together, these effects create a more balanced and effective immune response.
The research team now wants to explore whether the same benefits can be seen in people who had COVID but were never hospitalized.
Commenting on the study, Dr. Guido Vagheggini from the European Respiratory Society, who was not involved in the research, highlighted its importance. He noted that long COVID can affect people of all ages and often prevents them from returning to work, school, or daily activities for months at a time.
“This study shows that exercise-based rehabilitation may help restore immune function in people with post-COVID syndrome,” Dr. Vagheggini said. “That could mean fewer symptoms like fatigue and joint pain, and stronger defenses against future infections.”
The findings give hope to patients who fear repeated infections or ongoing symptoms, suggesting that carefully managed exercise could be part of the solution.
