In the face of the undisputed benefits, vaccinating against Covid-19 also brings with it some small side effects.
But can these annoyances be such as to affect one's sporting habits or even suggest that you stop your training routine?
vaccine for Covid-19 are such as to impact training is difficult, also because not all people react to injections in the same way.
There are those who, in fact, do not undergo any visible change in their state of health and who, on the other hand, is the victim of some malaise.
The most common side effects are:
- pain and swelling at the injection site,
- fever,
- chills,
- fatigue,
- headache,
- exhaustion.
In the event of the appearance of one or more of these symptoms it is essential to underline that there is absolutely no need to be alarmed, given that they are common and physiological reactions.
In fact, they can even be regarded as a good thing as some symptoms can be an "indication that the body is working hard to develop an immune response to the virus.
. Maintaining an active lifestyle is a good practice recommended for everyone but even more so for older people, whose immune systems are weaker than younger people.
In this sense, there are many studies that have shown that the best time to do physical activity is a few hours before the injection, precisely because the effort would improve the immune response. Doing it after being vaccinated, on the other hand, would help to counteract the initial feeling of exhaustion that occurs in many cases.
Possible influence of training on vaccine efficacy
Having said that there are no cause-and-effect links between sport and the side effects of the Covid-19 vaccine, it remains to be seen whether subjecting the body to a stress such as that given by training can invalidate, or even weaken, the effect. of the vaccine itself.
Also in this case we are in the presence of good news because since there is no data to suggest it, there is no reason to believe that dedicating oneself to one's usual workout can compromise the success of the vaccination.
If you are used to training, there is no reason to stop, but at the same time there is no reason to overdo it and choose that moment to push your foot on the accelerator and challenge your body to overcome your limits.
Furthermore, some side effects, although physiological, can affect the ability to perform normal daily activities in the best possible way, and consequently also training. Even in this case, however, it is not necessary to be alarmed because, exactly as in the presence of a trivial flu, if you develop a fever or chills, you may simply not want to engage in your usual fitness activity, but to rest until you are fully fit.
In these cases, listening to your body is essential.
If no adverse reactions to the Covid-19 vaccine have been found and you want to do some sport, it makes no sense to deprive yourself of it, while if you feel a bit tired, it is better to postpone it with serenity and without alarmism.
aching, slightly sore, or less forcefully than usual is one of the most common side effects.
In case it occurs, it is advisable to abandon the strength and strengthening exercises of the upper limbs for a few days, in order to avoid an overload that could generate small injuries.
At the same time, however, stretching exercises or small circulatory movements are extremely recommended, always for the arms, because keeping this area of the body in motion in a delicate way can prevent subsequent pains.
If you feel good overall but a little more lazy than normal, however, the ideal exercise is the low intensity one. It is useless to stress the body with a HIIT session, better opt for a relaxing walk and a little light stretching.
Pending a possible reopening of gyms and swimming pools in spring 2021, it is also useful to practice these activities.
Soon, the Covid-19 vaccine can also be done in pharmacies.
