Can I Still Play Sports or Be Active With Mono?

The consensus for engaging in physical activity while having Mono is that it should generally be avoided. It is recommended that athletes should avoid all forms of exercise for a minimum of 3 weeks after it has been diagnosed. This is done to prevent possible catastrophic complications such as spleen rupture. The spleen undergoes swelling for the first 21 days of infection and is at a risk for being damaged in contact sports and from exertion. For this reason, contact in sport must be suspended until the spleen returns to normal size

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When Can I Return to Sports or Activity?

The spleen reaches its greatest size at 21 days post infection and tends to decrease in size after that, mitigating risk of spleen rupture. This time frame is not definite, and can can take up to as little as 2 weeks or up to 3 months. In most cases though, after 3 weeks and and resolution of symptoms, you can slowly get back into sport and activity. The process begins with walking and progressing no more than 10% that intensity intensity each week as determined by your clinician. For contact sorts, re-introduction to play can begin 28 days after infection, and attempts to protect the spleen from collision can be done with flak jackets, rib guards, and customized protective braces.