For those navigating Long COVID or other post-infection conditions, exercise often feels like a double-edged sword. (written 12/15/2024)

For those navigating Long COVID or other post-infection conditions, exercise often feels like a double-edged sword. Some people find even day-to-day tasks take more energy than they have. For those who are able to do mild or moderate activity like walking, biking or tennis, the traditional “push-through” mindset can do more harm than good, leading to setbacks like post-exertional malaise (PEM). But that doesn’t mean movement should be avoided altogether. With the right approach, exercise can support recovery and help you regain strength and resilience.

At ThriveNinety, we focus on redefining exercise as a tool for healing, not a test of limits. It is all about being, and being able to be active. Gentle, low-impact movements tailored to your body’s current capacity can improve blood flow, brain function, and overall health without triggering crashes. Small, consistent steps — like standing up for a short mobility exercise (like the ankle tilts we share) or light walking — build a foundation for long-term improvement, creating an upward spiral toward better health.

This philosophy is part of our PEDAL™ approach, which combines Pacing, Exercise, Diet, Alignment, and Loosening to support sustainable recovery. Exercise in this context isn’t about pushing harder; it’s about moving while respecting your limits and helping your body feel safe with the activity you do. The feeling of safety is important to keep your nervous system in balance and avoid your body and brain tipping into a fight, flight or freeze response that can cause symptoms to worsen. 

Discover how this approach to exercise can help you, or someone you care about, manage Long COVID symptoms and build their ability over time. Read the full blog post here: Rethinking Exercise for Long COVID Recovery. 

Warmly,  
Katie & Andrea 

PS. Rethinking Exercise for Long COVID Recovery. In our latest blog post, we share ways to exercise and be active while managing post-infection conditions, and why the right kind of exercise should be part of your symptom management approach.