Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK
Sport and Physical Activity Research Centre, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK.
BMJ Open. 2021 Mar 10;11(3):e047632. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047632.
To explore the lived experience of long COVID with particular focus on the role of physical activity.
Qualitative study using semistructured interviews.
18 people living with long COVID (9 men, 9 women; aged between 18-74 years; 10 white British, 3 white Other, 3 Asian, 1 black, 1 mixed ethnicity) recruited via a UK-based research interest database for people with long COVID.
Telephone interviews with 17 participants living in the UK and 1 participant living in the USA.
Four themes were generated. Theme 1 describes how participants struggled with drastically reduced physical function, compounded by the cognitive and psychological effects of long COVID. Theme 2 highlights challenges associated with finding and interpreting advice about physical activity that was appropriately tailored. Theme 3 describes individual approaches to managing symptoms including fatigue and 'brain fog' while trying to resume and maintain activities of daily living and other forms of exercise. Theme 4 illustrates the battle with self-concept to accept reduced function (even temporarily) and the fear of permanent reduction in physical and cognitive ability.
This study provides insight into the challenges of managing physical activity alongside the extended symptoms associated with long COVID. Findings highlight the need for greater clarity and tailoring of physical activity-related advice for people with long COVID and improved support to resume activities important to individual well-being.
探讨长新冠的生活体验，特别关注体力活动的作用。
使用半结构式访谈的定性研究。
通过英国一个针对长新冠患者的研究兴趣数据库招募了 18 名患有长新冠的人（9 名男性，9 名女性；年龄在 18-74 岁之间；10 名白种英国人，3 名白种其他人，3 名亚洲人，1 名黑人，1 名混血儿）。
17 名参与者在英国进行电话访谈，1 名参与者在美国进行电话访谈。
生成了四个主题。主题 1 描述了参与者如何努力应对身体功能急剧下降的问题，而长新冠的认知和心理影响则使问题更加复杂。主题 2 强调了与寻找和解释量身定制的体力活动建议相关的挑战。主题 3 描述了个人管理症状的方法，包括疲劳和“脑雾”，同时试图恢复和维持日常生活活动和其他形式的运动。主题 4 说明了与自我概念的斗争，即接受功能下降（即使是暂时的），以及对身体和认知能力永久下降的恐惧。
这项研究深入了解了管理体力活动和与长新冠相关的长期症状的挑战。研究结果强调了需要为长新冠患者提供更清晰和更具针对性的体力活动相关建议，并需要改善支持，以帮助他们恢复对个人幸福至关重要的活动。
