Recent Blog Articles

Can long COVID affect the gut?

When replenishing fluids, does milk beat water?

Safe, joyful movement for people of all weights

Slowing down racing thoughts

Are women turning to cannabis for menopause symptom relief?

3 ways to create community and counter loneliness

Helping children make friends: What parents can do

Can electrical brain stimulation boost attention, memory, and more?

Palliative care frightens some people: Here’s how it helps

Parents don't always realize that their teen is suicidal
Exercise & Fitness
Reclaim your pre-pandemic function
- By Heidi Godman, Executive Editor, Harvard Health Letter
You may have lost endurance or strength without realizing it. Here’s how to get it back.
We’ve moved past some of the immediate effects of the pandemic, with many people returning to their previous physical activities. But some people are finding they’re a bit worse off functionally than they were before COVID-19 changed the world. "Some people say they can’t walk as far as they used to, or they’re now afraid to step on uneven surfaces. They feel they’ve suddenly aged," says Janice McGrail, a physical therapist at Harvard-affiliated Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital.
Are these changes just a consequence of getting older, or did something happen during the pandemic to reduce our physical capabilities?
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Subscribe to Harvard Health Online for immediate access to health news and information from Harvard Medical School.
- Research health conditions
- Check your symptoms
- Prepare for a doctor's visit or test
- Find the best treatments and procedures for you
- Explore options for better nutrition and exercise
I'd like to receive access to Harvard Health Online for only $4.99 a month.
Sign Me UpAlready a member? Login ».
About the Author

Heidi Godman, Executive Editor, Harvard Health Letter
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
You might also be interested in…

Stress Management: Enhance your well-being by reducing stress and building resilience
While some stress is inevitable, when your body repeatedly encounters a set of physiological changes dubbed the stress response, trouble can brew. Stress may contribute to or exacerbate various health problems. But it’s possible to dismantle negative stress cycles. This Special Health Report, Stress Management: Enhance your well-being by reducing stress and building resilience, can help you identify your stress warning signs and learn how to better manage stressful situations.
Free Healthbeat Signup
Get the latest in health news delivered to your inbox!