What do we know about the effects of physical exercise in mitigating the COVID-19 infection, transmission and severity?

Dear editor, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), has spread worldwide leading to high morbidity and mortality (Zhang et al., 2023). Although several studies have aimed to understand how the COVID-19 is affected by system...

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Main Authors: Arthur Zecchin, Victor Barbosa Ribeiro, Euripedes Barsanulfo Gonçalves Gomide, Enrico Fuini Puggina
Format: Article
Language:Portuguese
Published: Instituto Brasileiro de Pesquisa e Ensino em Fisiologia do Exercício 2023-12-01
Series:Revista Brasileira de Prescrição e Fisiologia do Exercício
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.rbpfex.com.br/index.php/rbpfex/article/view/2770
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author Arthur Zecchin
Victor Barbosa Ribeiro
Euripedes Barsanulfo Gonçalves Gomide
Enrico Fuini Puggina
author_facet Arthur Zecchin
Victor Barbosa Ribeiro
Euripedes Barsanulfo Gonçalves Gomide
Enrico Fuini Puggina
author_sort Arthur Zecchin
collection DOAJ
description Dear editor, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), has spread worldwide leading to high morbidity and mortality (Zhang et al., 2023). Although several studies have aimed to understand how the COVID-19 is affected by systematic physical activity, only few studies have been conducted to better understand the role of physical exercise in mitigating COVID-19 contamination and transmission (Souza et al., 2021; Zecchin et al., 2023). The role of physical exercise (i.e., resistance and/or endurance training) in the immune system is well understood (Nieman, Pedersen, 1999). Increased immune vigilance and the improvement of immune competence, which help the control of pathogens, mainly in elderly and obese population, who show limited immunological control, have been described earlier (Mohammad et al., 2021; Simpson, 2011). What do we know about the effects of physical exercise on COVID-19 disease? Moderate intensity physical exercise is well known to be part of the treatment of many acute and chronic metabolic diseases (i.e., respiratory and cardiac diseases) (Burge et al., 2020). Recent studies pertaining physical exercise and COVID-19 demonstrated that physical activity is not capable to diminish the transmission, however it has been reported to have a symptom-mitigating properly during the disease cycle, and it is part related to immune protection (Rahmati-Ahmadabad, Hosseini, 2020). Lee et al., (2021) investigated 212 768 thousands of Korean adults (aged ≥20 y) and described that those who were engaged in the recommended levels of physical exercise decreased SARS-CoV-2 infection, COVID-19 related death and severe illness (aerobic and muscle strength activities according to the 2018 physical activity guidelines). This results reported by Lee et al., (2021) corroborate with de Souza et al., (2021) investigating well-trained patients who showed lower levels of hospitalization due to SARS-CoV-2 infection (according to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire [IPAQ]). Halabchi et al., (2021) observed a lower frequency of hospitalization and number of deaths in athletes with regular sports participation compared to non-athletes. In fact, our research group recently reported that between 7676 participants who were active in some type of physical activity (i.e., CrossFit), were lower exposed to being hospitalized due to COVID-19 (under review) (Zecchin et al., 2023). What needs to be addressed in future studies regarding COVID-19 and physical exercise? To date, studies describing the effects of physical activity on COVID-19 have used different approaches, such as different guidelines for determining physical activity levels, and this is a limitation to a better understanding. Future studies should investigate the effects of different physical exercise methods (i.e., interval training, continuum training) in the attenuation of COVID-19 infection and severity in risk groups (i.e., elderly, obese). There is also a need for more detailed studies of participants' physical activity levels. Studies involving different designs must be implemented for a better approach between COVID-19 infection and severity and different populations. LIMITATIONS This letter describes only the potential studies in which the rule of physical exercise in mitigating COVID-19 infection, transmission and severity were investigated.
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spelling doaj.art-b912d62ffefe4bcd9eba6b09d48922682024-01-07T13:05:59ZporInstituto Brasileiro de Pesquisa e Ensino em Fisiologia do ExercícioRevista Brasileira de Prescrição e Fisiologia do Exercício1981-99002023-12-01171114764772770What do we know about the effects of physical exercise in mitigating the COVID-19 infection, transmission and severity?Arthur Zecchin0Victor Barbosa Ribeiro1Euripedes Barsanulfo Gonçalves Gomide2Enrico Fuini Puggina3Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Claretiano Universitary Centre, Batatais, Brazil.Federal Institute of Sao Paulo, Jacarei, Brazil.Federal Institute of Sao Paulo, Jacarei, Brazil; Nursing School of Ribeirão Preto, SP, BrazilRibeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil; School of Physical Education and Sport of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.Dear editor, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), has spread worldwide leading to high morbidity and mortality (Zhang et al., 2023). Although several studies have aimed to understand how the COVID-19 is affected by systematic physical activity, only few studies have been conducted to better understand the role of physical exercise in mitigating COVID-19 contamination and transmission (Souza et al., 2021; Zecchin et al., 2023). The role of physical exercise (i.e., resistance and/or endurance training) in the immune system is well understood (Nieman, Pedersen, 1999). Increased immune vigilance and the improvement of immune competence, which help the control of pathogens, mainly in elderly and obese population, who show limited immunological control, have been described earlier (Mohammad et al., 2021; Simpson, 2011). What do we know about the effects of physical exercise on COVID-19 disease? Moderate intensity physical exercise is well known to be part of the treatment of many acute and chronic metabolic diseases (i.e., respiratory and cardiac diseases) (Burge et al., 2020). Recent studies pertaining physical exercise and COVID-19 demonstrated that physical activity is not capable to diminish the transmission, however it has been reported to have a symptom-mitigating properly during the disease cycle, and it is part related to immune protection (Rahmati-Ahmadabad, Hosseini, 2020). Lee et al., (2021) investigated 212 768 thousands of Korean adults (aged ≥20 y) and described that those who were engaged in the recommended levels of physical exercise decreased SARS-CoV-2 infection, COVID-19 related death and severe illness (aerobic and muscle strength activities according to the 2018 physical activity guidelines). This results reported by Lee et al., (2021) corroborate with de Souza et al., (2021) investigating well-trained patients who showed lower levels of hospitalization due to SARS-CoV-2 infection (according to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire [IPAQ]). Halabchi et al., (2021) observed a lower frequency of hospitalization and number of deaths in athletes with regular sports participation compared to non-athletes. In fact, our research group recently reported that between 7676 participants who were active in some type of physical activity (i.e., CrossFit), were lower exposed to being hospitalized due to COVID-19 (under review) (Zecchin et al., 2023). What needs to be addressed in future studies regarding COVID-19 and physical exercise? To date, studies describing the effects of physical activity on COVID-19 have used different approaches, such as different guidelines for determining physical activity levels, and this is a limitation to a better understanding. Future studies should investigate the effects of different physical exercise methods (i.e., interval training, continuum training) in the attenuation of COVID-19 infection and severity in risk groups (i.e., elderly, obese). There is also a need for more detailed studies of participants' physical activity levels. Studies involving different designs must be implemented for a better approach between COVID-19 infection and severity and different populations. LIMITATIONS This letter describes only the potential studies in which the rule of physical exercise in mitigating COVID-19 infection, transmission and severity were investigated.http://www.rbpfex.com.br/index.php/rbpfex/article/view/2770covid-19inffectionphysical exercisetransmission
spellingShingle Arthur Zecchin
Victor Barbosa Ribeiro
Euripedes Barsanulfo Gonçalves Gomide
Enrico Fuini Puggina
What do we know about the effects of physical exercise in mitigating the COVID-19 infection, transmission and severity?
Revista Brasileira de Prescrição e Fisiologia do Exercício
covid-19
inffection
physical exercise
transmission
title What do we know about the effects of physical exercise in mitigating the COVID-19 infection, transmission and severity?
title_full What do we know about the effects of physical exercise in mitigating the COVID-19 infection, transmission and severity?
title_fullStr What do we know about the effects of physical exercise in mitigating the COVID-19 infection, transmission and severity?
title_full_unstemmed What do we know about the effects of physical exercise in mitigating the COVID-19 infection, transmission and severity?
title_short What do we know about the effects of physical exercise in mitigating the COVID-19 infection, transmission and severity?
title_sort what do we know about the effects of physical exercise in mitigating the covid 19 infection transmission and severity
topic covid-19
inffection
physical exercise
transmission
url http://www.rbpfex.com.br/index.php/rbpfex/article/view/2770
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