Yes, COVID-19 significantly affects the legs, causing common symptoms like muscle aches, soreness, cramps, and spasms, even leading to severe pain, and these issues can persist with long COVID. The virus triggers inflammation and impacts muscles and joints, resulting in leg pain alongside typical COVID signs like fever or fatigue, with theories suggesting inflammation and neurological impacts as causes.
A: COVID-19 is known to cause inflammation throughout the body, and this can lead to muscle pain and soreness, which can affect the legs.
In terms of gait performance, studies have shown that individuals with a history of COVID-19 may exhibit asymmetric gait patterns, even after full recovery.
Unusual COVID-19 symptoms: What are they?
Back pain can be a symptom of COVID-19 as viruses such as the coronavirus may cause body aches and muscle pain, which can be situated in the upper or lower back. As back pain can occur for several reasons, it's also essential to consider your other symptoms.
This muscle-related condition is also known as influenza-associated myositis, viral myositis, and acute myositis. It was first documented in 1905 by Leichtenstern as tender thigh and calf pain, suggested as a complication of influenza.
Common New COVID Variant Symptoms in 2025
Researchers in Japan have pinpointed a biological cause of Long COVID brain fog using advanced PET brain imaging. They discovered widespread increases in AMPA receptor density linked to cognitive impairment and inflammation.
What are the most common symptoms of long COVID?
KP. 2 is one of several variants being referred to as “FLiRT variants,” named after the technical names for their mutations. The prevalence of these variants comes at a critical time, when experts are deciding how to formulate the fall COVID vaccine.
Sudden weakness in the legs may be a sign of a medical emergency such as stroke or cauda equina syndrome and any sudden or unexplained leg weakness should warrant immediate medical attention.
For some people, these symptoms can lead to paralysis of the legs, arms, or muscles in the face1.
Look for emergency warning signs* for COVID 19:
It also can result from injuries or health conditions in joints, bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves or other soft tissues. Some types of leg pain can be traced to problems in your lower spine. Leg pain also can be caused by blood clots, varicose veins or poor blood flow.
COVID-19 is primarily associated with acute respiratory symptoms but can also cause non-respiratory complications, such as lower limb edema. The mechanisms behind this remain unclear, posing diagnostic challenges for clinicians.
When you have the flu, a common cold, a virus or a bacterial infection, your immune system jumps into action. It reacts by releasing white blood cells to fight off the infection. The reaction causes inflammation, which can leave your muscles feeling achy.
The most common symptoms of long COVID include: feeling extremely tired (fatigue) shortness of breath. joint pain and aching muscles.
Similarly, if you no longer have body aches, a sore throat, or a headache, you'll know that your COVID-19 infection is on its way out. You'll start to get your energy back, too.
Signs and symptoms of long COVID
Multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS) is a rare but serious condition associated with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in which different internal and external body parts become inflamed, including: heart. lungs. kidneys.
The most common symptom of long COVID (Post-COVID Conditions) is overwhelming fatigue, often accompanied by post-exertional malaise (PEM), meaning symptoms worsen after physical or mental effort, alongside cognitive issues like brain fog, memory problems, and difficulty concentrating. More than 200 symptoms have been identified, but fatigue, brain fog, and PEM consistently rank as the most frequent and debilitating.
COVID-19 lung damage can happen when you're sick with the respiratory illness COVID-19. Severe inflammation can cause lung damage that can make you very sick all at once — with pneumonia or respiratory distress. Or it can linger for a long time after the infection is gone, making you short of breath and tired.
Some people may have symptoms that get worse about 5 to 7 days after symptoms start. Most people with COVID-19 have mild to moderate symptoms. But COVID-19 can cause serious medical complications and lead to death. Older adults and people who already have medical conditions are at greater risk of serious illness.
What Are the Symptoms of COVID Toes? The skin on one or more of your toes or fingers may swell up and look bright red, then gradually turn purple. Skin of color can look swollen and purple, and brownish-purple spots may appear.
COVID-19 dizziness may come in the form of vertigo, lightheadedness, or feeling off-balanced. Dizziness often starts in the early stages of COVID-19 but can also be a symptom of long COVID. COVID-19 dizziness usually goes away on its own.