What Does the CDC Say About Exercise and the Covid Vaccination?
The CDC doesn’t offer any official guidance on exercise, either before or after your COVID-19 vaccine. They do say that you can “use or exercise your arm” after you get your vaccine to reduce possible pain and soreness where you got the shot.
It’s not entirely clear why there is no official advice on exercise, but it’s likely because the clinical trials for the vaccines did not advise participants on exercise, Richard Watkins, MD, an infectious disease physician and a professor of internal medicine at the Northeast Ohio Medical University, tells Verywell.
Does Exercise Make Vaccines More Effective?
Some research suggests that:
Exercising before vaccination can help improve the body’s immune response. Exercising regularly can help boost immune system function. Even one short exercise session can prompt better immune function.
Another review of 20 studies on exercise and vaccine responses also determined that both working out regularly and before vaccination can help improve the body’s vaccine response.
There is no specific data for how exercise may impact the COVID-19 vaccine, lead study author Kate M. Edwards, PhD, associate professor of exercise and sport sciences at the University of Sydney, tells Verywell. “But research has shown that exercising—15 minutes, moderate intensity, resistance exercise—before receiving other vaccines is safe, might actually reduce some of the symptoms of vaccine reactions, and boost your immune response,” she says.
The reason, notes Edwards, is that “exercise activates your immune system, bringing more cells into the blood.” She cites an example of exercising the arm muscles where you received the vaccine to combat soreness. “Those muscle cells are releasing immune molecules that could help the immune system identify and respond more efficiently,” she adds.
Can You Exercise Before Your COVID-19 Vaccine?
Doctors agree that it seems to be fine, and may even be beneficial to get some activity in before your Covid shot.
Jamie Alan, PhD, an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University, tells Verywell that people can “absolutely" exercise before getting vaccinated against COVID-19. “If you have no contraindications—[or a condition that makes it unsafe to partake in physical activity]—to work out, to begin with, then it is safe to work out before your COVID-19 vaccine,” she adds.
Stacey Rose, MD, assistant professor of internal medicine and infectious diseases at the Baylor College of Medicine in Texas, agrees. “I am not aware of any contraindications for physical activity before COVID-19 vaccination,” she tells Verywell.
Experts say there really aren’t any potential issues with exercising before you are vaccinated, although they suggest being mindful of your limits. “You don’t want to injure yourself and then have to miss your vaccine appointment,” Watkins says.
Can You Exercise After Your Covid-19 Vaccine?
Rose says it’s fine to work out after you’re vaccinated, but recommends listening to your body. “If you are feeling tired or sore, then take a break from exercising,” she says.
While you can do any exercise after being vaccinated, Rose says it’s “probably better to exercise using the muscles where the vaccine is given” to lessen any discomfort you may feel at the injection site, like arm soreness. She suggests resistance band exercises or body-weight exercises that use your arms, noting they “might be a better idea than going for a run.”
The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit our coronavirus news page.
If you regularly take medication, speak with your doctor prior to getting vaccinated.
