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COVID-19 body aches can range from mild to moderate, and may affect the shoulders, lower back, or legs and limit or restrict mobility
COVID-19 body aches can range from mild to moderate. Most people have reported that COVID-19 body aches feel like dull muscle pain that typically affects the shoulders, lower back, or legs and may limit or restrict their mobility.
When do body aches occur in COVID-19?
Body aches or muscle pains may be an early symptom of COVID-19, often appearing at the very start of the illness and lasting for an average of 2-3 days.
Unfortunately, COVID-19 body aches can sometimes last much longer and are commonly reported in people with long COVID-19 or post COVID-19 syndrome.
What are typical symptoms of COVID-19?
With COVID-19, body aches are accompanied by other symptoms, such as:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Fever
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Cough
- Anosmia (loss of smell)
- Loss of appetite
- Sore throat
- Diarrhea
- Difficulty breathing
Apart from COVID-19, however, body aches can also be a symptom of:
- Other viral diseases, such as flu
- Bad posture
- Heavy workouts
- Musculoskeletal conditions
- Autoimmune conditions
- Vitamin deficiencies
- Medications such as statins
What causes body aches in COVID-19?
Body aches in COVID-19 are a result of inflammation in the body. This inflammatory response from the immune system is triggered by the invading virus that involves a series of complex processes that the body uses as a defense mechanism to fight off the invading pathogens.
About 1 out of 3 people infected with COVID-19 report body aches as a symptom. It is more common in adults between ages 16-65 (41%) than children (15%) or people over 65 (36%). A report from the World Health Organization analyzed nearly 56,000 cases of COVID-19 in China and found that nearly 15% of patients experienced muscle aches and pains.
How do you get rid of body aches?
If you are suffering from body aches and suspect it could be due to COVID-19, you should:
- Self-isolate at home
- Get tested (irrespective of vaccination status)
- Monitor yourself for other symptoms, such as fever and sore throat
- Rest
- Stay hydrated
- Stretch several times a day
- Eat a healthy and nutritious diet
- Take over-the-counter pain relievers if needed:
- Acetaminophen
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen
