Do I have to wait a long time after a coronavirus vaccination before I start exercising again? What signs should I look out for in my body? Many people are currently asking themselves these questions after a vaccination. Prof. Dr. Axel Preßler, a specialist in cardiology, internal medicine and sports medicine in Munich, has the answers.
Prof. Dr. med Axel Preßler advises anyone who has just been vaccinated to "Take a break on the day of the corona vaccination so that the injection site can heal optimally. If you feel well and there are no possible side effects such as headaches, aching limbs, exhaustion or fever, there is nothing to stop you doing sport again the next day." Sport on the day of the vaccination is therefore absolutely taboo. However, some exercise the next day is fine, the important thing is not to overdo it and to listen to your body.
What about exercise if I have side effects?
However, if you are struggling with side effects such as fever, chills or headaches as a result of the vaccination, you should definitely take a break from sport for at least a week. "Avoid (...) heavy physical exertion, as very intensive sport can weaken the immune system and lead to vaccination reactions," warns the expert. The vaccinated arm should be spared. It is also important to listen to your body and give it the time it needs to recover from the vaccination.
Corona vaccination: You should not do these sports afterwards!
Avoid strength and endurance training to protect your arm after the coronavirus vaccination."It's best to wait two to three days after the vaccination before you start strength training and don't lift weights that are too heavy at the beginning. There is nothing wrong with light physical activity such as jogging," said Prof. Dr. med Axel Preßler in an interview with ELEMENTS Fitness and Wellness. So avoid activities that strain your arm. You should also avoid sprints, intensive interval training, high-performance sport, training for a marathon or competitions a few days after a vaccination.