Pathology

Sociology

Qualitative research

Disease

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Physical activity

Social science

Infectious disease (medical specialty)

Operating system

Psychiatry

Ethnic group

Cognition

Physical therapy

Chemistry

Anthropology

CLARITY

Theme (computing)

Computer science

Gerontology

Activities of daily living

Biochemistry

Focus group

Medicine

BMJ Open

Objectives To explore the lived experience of long COVID with particular focus on the role of physical activity. Design Qualitative study using semistructured interviews. Participants 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. Setting Telephone interviews with 17 participants living in the UK and 1 participant living in the USA. Results 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. Conclusions 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.

Long COVID and the role of physical activity: a qualitative study