This coming week I will be receiving my second Pfizer Covid-19 vaccination. Needless to say, I am grateful and relieved to reach this occasion…but I am also a little concerned.
Most people I have spoken with have had some kind of reaction to the second dose. Many of my clients have had to cancel workouts with me–some were knocked out for 5 days. Others, however, felt “off” for a day and then were fine. So what awaits me next week?
Medical experts note that everyone reacts differently; some even indicate that a strong reaction is a good sign of the immune system ramping up its defenses against the virus.
What does this mean for those who are regular exercisers? Should we work out after receiving our shots?
Yahoo News ran an article yesterday on this topic (it originally ran in Business Insider); here is the link: https://news.yahoo.com/know-exercise-covid-19-vaccine-152010050.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAALvUGT_dj_yYn8ZDh7dBamMrsbFkrQBQRIzdumYt5cJR0od7djGCIja3IVRyvfhyqxIXXwcjIruvqvuYGo6w9tQgTlVf0CewlGYEokeZFaNd-Nk58o-BOSk-_uRp06YGb-SOZL34zgXn4TZ07-LTBKr6ax_oA8tj2QZeiyPQY8Kq.
The author, Anna Medaris Miller, does not surprise us at all. The advice in a nutshell is that if you feel up to it, go ahead and exercise before and after the shot. If not, take it easy. Listen to your body and act accordingly. In any case, exercising before or after the injection does not seem to alter its efficacy; overtraining, however, may have a negative effect so do not run a marathon right before the vaccination. The doctor interviewed in the article, Dr. Kevin Bernstein, does warn that we should avoid the opposite as well; sitting around for a week afterwards is not recommended. It is up to each individual to judge their own situation, but an effort should me made to keep moving.
Finally, the article notes that arm exercises can help to alleviate the pain at the injections site. Bernstein did pull-ups (which may be a bit much for most people), but other arm exercises can lessen the discomfort; a cool washcloth at the spot and over-the-counter painkillers can also help.
I will let you know how it goes next week. In the meantime, I look forward to reciting the Jewish prayer when I get the shot: “Praised are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, who brought us into life, sustained us, and allowed us to reach this moment!”
Kosher Fitness 