Comment on "The importance of physical exercise during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic"

Characteristics and effects of physical exercise programs for older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: an integrative review

Objective: To evaluate the characteristics of physical exercise programs for older adults and their effects during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An integrative review was conducted between January and March 2022. A search was conducted in MEDLINE via PubMed, Lilacs via BVS, PEDro, and Cochrane Library. Experimental articles (randomized clinical trials, non-randomized trials, or quasi-experimental studies) published from 2019 to 2021, with no language restriction, and that used physical exercise programs for older adults (> 60 years) in their intervention were included. The studies were selected by reading the title, abstract, and full text. The selected articles had their results extracted using an online form, tabulated using an electronic spreadsheet, and analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. Results: 113 studies were identified; 7 met the eligibility criteria and were included in the review, all randomized controlled trials. The multi-component exercise programs were more frequent (resistance, balance, flexibility, and aerobic), delivered remotely and performed 2 to 7 times a week, lasting between 30 and 50 minutes. Significant effects were observed on physical function, body composition, blood triglycerides, the incidence of falls, physical activity, and functional capacity. Conclusions: The physical exercise programs used during the COVID-19 pandemic showed promising results for older adults. The programs proved to be a viable alternative for maintaining the physical, mental, and cognitive functions of older adults in times of public calamity.

Effects of quarantine on Physical Activity prevalence in Italian Adults: a pilot study

Background

COVID-19 is a respiratory disease that caused a global pandemic status in March 2020. Due to its fast diffusion, many governments adopted forced solutions including social restrictions, which could negatively affect citizens' habits as physical activity. Our study aimed to investigate how and why the physical activity prevalence varied from the period before the quarantine up to the period after it, and understand what citizens thought of physical inactivity COVID-19 related to and whether they were satisfied with physical activity promotion during the lockdown.

Methods

A new questionnaire was created and administered online. A sample of 749 interviews (female = 552 (73.7%), male = 197 (26.3%)) was collected and analysed.

Results

The prevalence of people who were older than 50 years reduced both during and after the lockdown (P < 0.05) and the most common reason for which they have quitted physical activity practice was related to psychological problems (lockdown = 64.57%; post-lockdown = 62.17%). In addition, youngers seemed to be more sensitive than elders to unhealthy consequences generated by forced isolation (P < 0.05), and they believed that children/adolescents and older adults practised an insufficient amount of physical activity and/or sport, which could negatively impact public health.

Conclusions

Although many strategies were implemented during the lockdown to promote regular physical activity practice, several results suggested that quarantine negatively affected citizens' habits. The future government should focus on adequate measures to improve health behaviours.

COVID-19 seen from a syndemic perspective: Impact of unhealthy habits and future perspectives to combat these negative interactions in Latin America

COVID-19 has to this point led to more than 5 million deaths and has imposed numerous measures restricting populations worldwide, including Latin America (LA). However, analyzing COVID-19 from the perspective of a syndemic, it demonstrates the relationship between the interaction of multiple comorbidities and the increase of contagion in people who are socially vulnerable. The number of deaths by COVID-19 in LA is strongly associated with multi-morbidities (diabetes, obesity, sedentary, smoking, among others) and disproportionately attacks communities located in poorer, low-income regions and ethnic minorities. This review aims to revisit the relationship between COVID-19 and both unhealthy living habits (i.e., sedentary lifestyle, poor nutritional habits, overweight and obesity, smoking) and cardiovascular disease in Latin American countries. In addition, this review aims to introduce strategies and policies that combat social inequalities and enable healthy living behaviors in LA countries. If LA countries do not work on public policies that decrease multi-morbidities and social inequalities, we will be unable to eliminate COVID-19, as well as possible other outbreaks that may arise in the future.

An online pilates exercise program is effective on proprioception and core muscle endurance in a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Proprioception is important for stability of body segments, postural control, and functionality. However, there are no studies in literature showing effects of online Pilates exercises that create proprioceptive inputs on vertebra on trunk proprioception.

AIMS

This study aims to reveal effect of online Pilates exercises conducted on trunk proprioception and core muscle endurance in healthy individuals.

METHODS

We included thirty-three healthy individuals between ages of 18 and 25 in study. Individuals were randomly divided into two groups. There were 17 individuals in Pilates group (PG), and 16 individuals in control group (CG). The PG was given online Pilates exercises by the physiotherapist in groups 3 days a week for 6 weeks, 1 h a day. There was no exercise program recommended for individuals in CG. We evaluated trunk proprioception with an inclinometer, core muscle endurance with three core endurance tests created by McGill, and prone bridge tests. All evaluations completed just before start of study and 2 days after 6-week training.

RESULTS

Two groups had similar demographic characteristics, and there was no difference between baseline measurements (p > 0.05). While improvement observed in PG in trunk proprioception and all of core muscle endurance tests (p < 0.05), no statistically significant difference reported in CG (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

We revealed that online Pilates exercises performed at mat level for 6 weeks in healthy individuals had positive effects on trunk proprioception and core muscle endurance with this study. Contribution of Pilates exercises to development of both muscular endurance and proprioceptive senses, even if performed at a distance, is important.