Can You Exercise After Getting the COVID Vaccine?

You may have noticed side effects after getting a vaccine in the past. Or maybe you’ve heard about other people feeling ill after receiving a vaccine. 

So you may have questions about how your body will respond to the COVID-19 vaccine. You may wonder: How will I feel after getting the shot? When can I return to my usual activities like working out? While there's no way to know for sure, you can find out what the science says about vaccine safety. 

Let’s look at the common side effects of the COVID vaccines and how getting vaccinated may impact your exercise plans. 

What are the side effects of the COVID vaccine?

The most common side effects that people experience after getting a COVID vaccine are:

• Tiredness

• Muscle aches

• Headache

• Fever or chills 

• Pain or swelling at the injection site 

• Nausea

COVID vaccine side effects can develop within a few hours and last several days. These symptoms are a sign that your immune system is responding to the vaccine. 

Rest and fluids can help manage these side effects. Talk to a healthcare professional if you’re considering over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers after your vaccine. 

Is it safe to exercise after getting a COVID vaccine? 

Yes, it’s safe to exercise after getting a COVID vaccine if you’re feeling well. But be sure to pay attention to how you feel and to monitor your side effects. If you feel sick, take time to rest or reduce the intensity and duration of your exercise. 

Don’t plan to do your most strenuous workout on the first or second day after getting the vaccine. As you feel better, you can increase your exercise intensity. 

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

• COVID-19 vaccine side effects: Most side effects from the COVID vaccine are mild and go away within a couple of days. Here’s what you can do.

• Exercising after COVID illness: An expert shares tips on when and how to safely get back to your exercise routine after COVID illness. 

• Should you exercise when you’re sick? Whether you have COVID or a cold, it’s important to pay attention to how you feel before working out. Here are some guidelines.

You can also consider doing gentle exercises to help with muscle soreness in the arm where you received your vaccine. For example, you can try the following moves for pain relief: 

• Arm circles (forward and backward)

• Front or side arm raises 

• Shoulder rolls 

And when you do feel up to working out, consider doing some movements to help relieve sore muscles you may have.

When to avoid exercise after getting the COVID vaccine

Common side effects of the COVID vaccine might make it difficult to exercise. For example, arm pain at the injection site can make certain exercises, like weightlifting or yoga, especially challenging. And muscle aches can make it hard to do high-impact activities, like jumping jacks or running on a treadmill. 

If you have a fever after the COVID vaccine, wait until it goes down and you’re feeling better. Exercising when you have a fever can further raise your already elevated body temperature. 

If you feel tired after getting the vaccine, doing too much physical activity can make you feel worse. That's why it's important to pay close attention to how you feel and to not overdo it. Try to be patient with yourself and set realistic expectations before you resume your activities.

Most people don’t experience severe side effects from the COVID vaccine. But severe reactions can happen with any vaccine, and COVID is no exception. If you do experience serious side effects, get medical attention right away. Severe symptoms can include: 

• Chest pain 

• Shortness of breath 

• Worsening redness or pain at the injection site 

What are the benefits of exercising after receiving the COVID vaccine? 

Routine exercise has many benefits for your body, including your immune system. As you age, your immune system tends to get weaker. But people who exercise regularly usually have stronger immune systems and tend to respond better to vaccines. In addition to building muscle strength, physical activity allows you to make more infection-fighting cells to protect yourself against illness. 

Some researchers have looked at how physical activity after COVID vaccination may affect how the immune system responds. At this point, it’s not totally clear if you can improve your response to a COVID vaccine with a single workout immediately before or after getting the shot. 

Frequently asked questions 

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Christine Giordano, MD

Christine Giordano, MD, is board-certified in general internal medicine. She received her medical degree from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and completed residency at Thomas Jefferson University.

Edited by:

Alex Eastman, PhD, RN

Alex Eastman, PhD, RN, is a California-based registered nurse and staff medical editor at GoodRx, where he focuses on clinical updates and Latino health.

Reviewed by:

Brian Clista, MD

Dr. Clista is a board-certified pediatrician who works in private practice in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He previously served as a National Health Service Corporation Scholar in the inner city of Pittsburgh for 11 years.

Our editorial standards

Meet our experts