Locations:
Search IconSearch

Should You Really Work Out When You’re Sick?

If your symptoms are above the neck, go for it! Below the neck, it’s best to rest

Person with sore throat drinking warm beverage before exercising.

We’ve all been there. Whether you’re this close to hitting a seven-minute mile, you’re one week into a brand-new Zumba® class or you just started making power walks after lunch your thing, that bug you woke up with couldn’t have come at a worse time.

Advertisement

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy

You don’t want to lose your momentum, especially if you’re not that sick. But you also don’t want to make yourself feel any worse than you already do. And what if you’re contagious?

Can you work out while you’re sick?

If you’re debating between hitting the gym or hitting the medicine cabinet, sports health physician Vikas Patel, DO, says it may be time to conduct a “neck check.”

When you can work out vs. when you can’t

A “neck check” isn’t exactly what it sounds like, but it’s close. If your symptoms are above the neck ― sore throatcoughingsneezing or runny nose ― it’s typically OK to still work out. But if your symptoms are below the neck ― chest congestion or hacking cough, muscle aches, fatigue or upset stomach ― it’s a good idea to rest.

If you pass the neck check and want to try to power through a workout, Dr. Patel suggests cutting your effort by about 50%. Walk instead of run. Do one set instead of five. Or try a low-impact activity like yoga.

Exceptions to every rule

While generally helpful, the neck check isn’t foolproof.

If you have a fever, you 100% shouldn’t be exercising. And if you have asthma or a heart condition, Dr. Patel recommends speaking with your physician before exercising.

Listen to your body

While the neck check might suggest it’s OK to get your blood pumping, you shouldn’t feel obligated to power through a workout if you’re not feeling well.

Advertisement

“The general rule of thumb is to listen to your body,” Dr. Patel says. “Taking a few days off won’t impact your fitness level.”

In fact — as any top athlete with tell you — good exercise routines build in opportunities to rest and recover.

Should certain exercises always be off the table when you’re ill?

There’s no hard and fast rule about what you can and can’t do when you’re sick, but common sense tells us that you should:

  • Stay out of the pool if you’ve GI issues. If you have diarrhea, stay far away from the pool. You could contaminate the water with cryptosporidium. The U.S. CDC recommends avoiding the water until you’ve gone a full two weeks without diarrhea.
  • Avoid team sports, group activities and gym visits. You don’t want to make other people sick.
  • Reduce exercise intensity. Avoid activities that are likely to exhaust and dehydrate you. Regardless of what you’re doing, be sure to reduce the amount of effort you’re putting in by about 50%. Your body needs the other 50% to fight off whatever’s making you sick.
  • Deprioritize endurance. In addition to reducing the intensity of your workout, make sure you’re reducing the duration, too. A workout doesn’t have to be long to be beneficial.
  • Try to sweat less. You don’t want to get dehydrated, so skip the hot yoga — or anything else that’s likely to turn you into a puddle.

Hydration is key

Exercise may be optional when you’re sick, but making sure you drink enough water isn’t.

According to Dr. Patel, it’s even more important to focus on hydration when you aren’t feeling well. “Most people who felt like working out, who had prolonged their sickness, were actually feeling the effects of dehydration,” he notes.

Are you putting others at risk?

When it comes to working out while sick, it’s important to be mindful of other people’s safety — not just your own. That means avoiding gyms, exercise classes and team sports.

When is it safe to go back to the gym?

Whether you have the flu, COVID-19, or a run-of-the-mill cold, it’s important to remember that you could be contagious longer than you realize. Follow the guidelines below for when it’s safe to return to the gym — and when in doubt, work out at home.

The flu

If you have the flu, you were already contagious before your symptoms showed up. You’ll be most contagious during the first three or four days thereafter.

You can spread the flu for up to a week after your symptoms start. Children and adults with weakened immune systems may be contagious even longer.

The common cold

The common cold can be even more infectious than the flu. Most people are contagious one to three days before first experiencing symptoms, and can stay that way for up to two weeks.

Advertisement

Your best bet is to wait at least 72 hours after your symptoms have resolved to return to the gym.

Is exercise good for a cold?

You’ve probably heard that you can “sweat out” a cold. But that’s not true.

While exercise is good for your immune system, that’s a cumulative effect over time. Put differently, consistent exercise may reduce the number of colds you get in general, but once you’re sick, your body’s immune response is what it is.

Some people may feel better if they do some light exercise with a cold, but it can also make your symptoms worse if you aren’t careful.

COVID-19

If you have COVID-19, the CDC recommends isolating for at least five days after the day you test positive and taking precautions like indoor masking for at least 11 days. To ensure the safety of your workout buddies, though, it’s best to wait until you’ve had two negative tests in a row, 48 hours apart, before hitting the gym.

When you do go back

When the time comes for you to return to the gym, your team or your favorite exercise class, keep in mind that there are many ways you can reduce the risk you pose to others, from wearing a mask and washing your hands, to bringing your own equipment with you and sanitizing the surfaces you touch.

To reduce your risk, keep listening to your body. If you don’t feel like you have the energy or strength for all those burpees, try jumping jacks instead. If you need to sit out the climbing portion of your cycling class, sit it out. And if you need to skip your workout and take a nap instead, don’t hesitate.

Advertisement

And if — after reading this — you have any lingering doubts about the wisdom of returning to your regularly scheduled exercise routine, speak with a doctor.

Advertisement

Learn more about our editorial process.

Related Articles

Person wearing earbuds, sitting in bed undercovers, coughing into their elbow, with laptop open on lap
December 3, 2024/Lung
Best Ways To Stop a Cough

Certain medicines and home remedies like ginger, honey and thyme can help calm a cough

Person sitting on couch at home, wrapped in blanket, blowing their nose, with toast and tea on table
What To Do for a Weak Immune System

If you’re getting four or more colds a year, your immune system might not be in its best shape

Glass of water on table, with medicine bottle of purple capsules, and capsules on table
November 27, 2024/Infectious Disease
Can Melatonin Help Treat COVID-19?

Studies have shown promising results, but additional research is needed

Gloved hands cleaning bathroom sink with spray bottle
Tips for Cleaning Up and Disinfecting After Norovirus

Use a bleach solution to sanitize surfaces like doorknobs, counters, toilets and light switches

Person spotting a person doing an inclined bench press in gym
November 22, 2024/Exercise & Fitness
Here’s How To Do a Bench Press Correctly

Pulling your shoulders back and controlling the weight’s descent are key to a good bench press

Healthcare provider examining person's throat in office, with oversized germs around
November 21, 2024/Infectious Disease
How Laryngitis and COVID-19 Can Impact Your Voice

Infection and inflammation can cause you to lose your voice and have other voice changes until you’re fully healed

Person lying stomach down on bed, head on crossed arms, staring into the distance
Having COVID-19 May Increase Your Risk of Depression

A COVID-19 infection can bring on depression or anxiety months after physical symptoms go away

Person in mask and medical coveralls handling COVID-19 vials with gloved hands
November 14, 2024/Infectious Disease
COVID-19 Variants: What’s New and Why We’re Still Concerned

Just like the flu, COVID-19 continues to evolve every year with new and smarter variants

Trending Topics

Person touching aching ear, with home remedies floating around
Home Remedies for an Ear Infection: What To Try and What To Avoid

Not all ear infections need antibiotics — cold and warm compresses and changing up your sleep position can help

Infographic of foods high in iron, including shrimp, oysters, peas, cream of wheat, prunes, eggs, broccoli, beef and chicken
52 Foods High In Iron

Pump up your iron intake with foods like tuna, tofu and turkey

Person squeezing half a lemon into a glass of water
Is Starting Your Day With Lemon Water Healthy?

A glass of lemon water in the morning can help with digestion and boost vitamin C levels, and may even help get you into a better routine

Ad