Background: COVID-19; It has the potential to cause a decrease in exercise capacity with its effects on the cardiovascular, respiratory and musculoskeletal systems. The time taken to return to a healthy functional state in individuals with reduced exercise capacity remains uncertain.

Aim: This study was conducted to evaluate the change in exercise capacity in the long-term after COVID-19 in healthy young people who do not have a known restrictive condition that may affect their exercise capacity.

Methods: 16 months ago, 79 healthy young people (who did not have COVID-19), whose exercise capacity was evaluated within the scope of a different study, were contacted and it was determined that 15 people had COVID-19. The exercise capacities of 13 volunteers (mean age: 22.9 years; 11F/2M) out of 15 were evaluated using the Incremental Shuttle Walk Test (ISWT) and the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT). Blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, dyspnea and fatigue were measured before and after the tests. Dyspnea and fatigue levels were evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale.

Results: ISWT values of the participants, respectively (pre-COVID, post-COVID) were 527.8m, 516.9m; 6MWT values were 626.7m and 618.8m, respectively. When all evaluations before and after COVID-19 were examined, no statistically significant difference was found (p>0.05).

Conclusions: There was no difference in the exercise capacity of the participants 9 months after the COVID-19 infection compared to their healthy status. The young average age and the absence of chronic diseases may have made it easier for the participants to reach a healthy level.