Effect of physical activity on COVID-19 symptoms: A narrative review

Abstract

In 2019, a new condition caused by the COVID-19, became a global pandemic, presenting a disparate symptomatological picture. The immune response to the virus depends on multiple factors, making the practice of physical exercise an important enhancer of the immune system, but it is unknown what effects it could have on the very different symptoms. In order to achieve and summarize the most outstanding information on the influence of the different types and parameters of physical exercise on the immune system and symptoms presented by COVID-19, it was decided to carry out a review of the literature in the databases PubMed and Medline until August 2020. The results showed that while high intensity and prolonged volume exercise produces counterproductive alterations in the immune system, increasing the possibility of contracting infections; low and moderate intensity exercise reverses these effects, increasing the benefits, providing the body with better protection against viruses. For the symptoms of COVID-19 related to cough, dyspnea, pulmonary obstruction, hypoxia, muscle pain and neuromuscular conditions, exercise at low and moderate intensity is recommended, while those people who present gastrointestinal symptoms and fatigue are recommended to exercise at low intensity. Exercise is completely contraindicated in case of fever and myocarditis.

Exercise dosing considerations in times of COVID-19 pandemic: A review

“…This review aimed to investigate the existing evidence in the last five years (January 2016 through December 2021), regarding the immunological response of different physical exercise modalities in the population aged 25 to 84 years, identified with the highest number of confirmed cases of COVID-19, declared in the WHO report n°198 of the World Health Organization (2) .…”

“…In late 2019, a new condition caused by SARS-CoV-2 was reported in Wuhan, China, causing a global pandemic problem (1,2) . Autopsies of patients who died from COVID-19 identified that the virus invades mainly the lungs, but also affects the cardiovascular system, the liver, the kidneys, and the coagulation system (3) .…”

“…These data indicate that the severity or mortality rate is low; however, the World Health Organization (WHO) surveillance reports identify that the age distribution of COVID-19 cases is between 25-64 years of age, presenting a higher risk with 64% infection, followed by the third group between 65-84 years of age with a risk of 19.4% of cases (6) . During the pandemic, various international organizations, such as the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the American Heart Association (AHA) and the WHO, recommended regular exercise at moderate intensity to maintain physical and psychological health (7,8) .In addition, physical exercise is an important immune system booster (2) , and although the risk factors associated with severe disease by COVID-19 are still being studied, there is increasing and consistent evidence of the relationship between physical inactivity and an increased risk of severe outcomes, i.e. hospitalization, intensive care unit admission, and/or death, similarly, patients who participated in aerobic and resistance training had a low risk of infection (9) .…”