Physiatrist (Physical Medicine) Questions Physiatrist

How long does it take to get strength back after COVID?

I had a COVID infection 1 month ago. I still feel weak. How long does it take to get strength back after COVID?

4 Answers

It all depends on your age, comorbidities, and prior level of health and endurance.

It can take up to 6 months, following the illness, for the patient to regain strength (1). Generally, it is safe to postulate that the length of time it takes to regain one's strength after having COVID-19 depends on the severity of the illness one went through.

Source
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7833295/
The time it takes to get back to full strength following Covid varies considerably. Some people, as you know, never even develop symptoms. Others are sick for a few days or a week or so and then feel fine. Still others, like yourself, don’t feel quite right for a much longer period of time. There are people who experience what is now known as “long Covid”: some of these people don’t feel quite right or have lingering symptoms that can last for months on end.

So it is impossible to give you an answer as to how long it will take YOU to get better; there is just too much variability. I can tell you that if you stay positive and try to get good nutrition and good sleep, it will hasten your recovery.

Good luck. I hope you feel better soon.


Randall
It can take several months. Seeing a physical therapist near you can help
Everybody is different and it will depend on how severe your Covid infection was. It will probably take a couple of months.