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Background <p>Persistent symptoms such as reduced exercise tolerance, fatigue, and impaired quality of life (QoL) have been reported following COVID-19, even in young adults. Exercise interventions may help improve functional capacity (FC) and overall well-being; however, evidence in young populations remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a 12-week structured combined aerobic and resistance exercise program on FC, pulmonary function (PF), QoL, and perceived exertion (PE) in young adults with and without a history of COVID-19.</p> Methods <p>Thirty participants (aged 18–25) were allocated to two groups: prior COVID-19 (<i>n</i> = 15) and no history (<i>n</i> = 15). The intervention comprised 40-min aerobic walking sessions 5&#xa0;days per week and theraband-based resistance exercises for 12&#xa0;weeks. FC assessed by the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included PF tests, health-related QoL (SF-36), and PE assessed using the Modified Borg Scale.</p> Results <p>Baseline characteristics were comparable between the groups. For the primary outcome, a significant main effect of time was observed for 6MWT distance (<i>p</i> &lt; .001), indicating improved submaximal functional exercise capacity after the intervention. However, the group × time interaction was not significant (<i>p</i> = .648), suggesting that the magnitude of improvement was comparable between groups. PE related to the 6MWT decreased over time, while FVC did not show a significant time effect or group × time interaction in the repeated-measures analysis. Improvements in QoL were limited to selected SF-36 subdomains.</p> Conclusion <p>A 12-week structured combined aerobic and resistance exercise program improved submaximal functional exercise capacity and reduced perceived exertion related to the 6MWT in young adults, regardless of COVID-19 history. However, no group × time interaction was observed, suggesting that the response to exercise was comparable between young adults with and without a history of COVID-19. PF changes were limited, and improvements in quality of life were observed only in selected SF-36 subdomains.</p> Trail registration <p>ClinicalTrials.gov, TRN: NCT06145386, Retrospectively registration date: 22 November 2023.</p>

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Does combined exercise training improve functional capacity, quality of life, and pulmonary function regardless of COVID-19 history? Quasi-experimental controlled study

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月28日

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  • Özge Mine Yılmaz,
  • Erdoğan Kavlak

摘要

Background

Persistent symptoms such as reduced exercise tolerance, fatigue, and impaired quality of life (QoL) have been reported following COVID-19, even in young adults. Exercise interventions may help improve functional capacity (FC) and overall well-being; however, evidence in young populations remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a 12-week structured combined aerobic and resistance exercise program on FC, pulmonary function (PF), QoL, and perceived exertion (PE) in young adults with and without a history of COVID-19.

Methods

Thirty participants (aged 18–25) were allocated to two groups: prior COVID-19 (n = 15) and no history (n = 15). The intervention comprised 40-min aerobic walking sessions 5 days per week and theraband-based resistance exercises for 12 weeks. FC assessed by the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included PF tests, health-related QoL (SF-36), and PE assessed using the Modified Borg Scale.

Results

Baseline characteristics were comparable between the groups. For the primary outcome, a significant main effect of time was observed for 6MWT distance (p < .001), indicating improved submaximal functional exercise capacity after the intervention. However, the group × time interaction was not significant (p = .648), suggesting that the magnitude of improvement was comparable between groups. PE related to the 6MWT decreased over time, while FVC did not show a significant time effect or group × time interaction in the repeated-measures analysis. Improvements in QoL were limited to selected SF-36 subdomains.

Conclusion

A 12-week structured combined aerobic and resistance exercise program improved submaximal functional exercise capacity and reduced perceived exertion related to the 6MWT in young adults, regardless of COVID-19 history. However, no group × time interaction was observed, suggesting that the response to exercise was comparable between young adults with and without a history of COVID-19. PF changes were limited, and improvements in quality of life were observed only in selected SF-36 subdomains.

Trail registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, TRN: NCT06145386, Retrospectively registration date: 22 November 2023.