Relationship between physical exercise and COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2): systematic review

Abstract

Background The SARS-CoV virus is a precursor to the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19) and has caused millions of deaths worldwide. Although exercise can be a non-pharmacological means for the prevention and treatment of various diseases, the effects on COVID-19 patients are not yet completely clear. Aims The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between physical exercise and symptoms caused by COVID-19. Methods The present systematic review was sent for evaluation and received the PROSPERO registration protocol-CRD42021257475. The search for studies related to health and physical exercise was carried out in the following databases; the “National Library in Medicine MEDLINE–Ovid”, “Embase”, “Web of Science”, “SportDiscus-Ebsco”, and “Scopus”. Results Ten articles were included in the systematic review and the findings demonstrated the protective effects of physical exercise in patients with COVID-19. These effects were observed both in symptoms and in the period of hospitalization. In addition, the results show that the benefits of physical exercise seem to collaborate both in an individual manner and as an alternative to drug therapy. Finally, it was possible to verify the effect of physical exercise on variables, such as quality of life, cardiorespiratory capacity, and immunological biomarkers, and on the symptoms of the new Coronavirus. Conclusions It is possible to conclude that physical exercise can be a component for the treatment of COVID-19. In addition, it could help to reduce the symptoms and severity of COVID-19, and may be considered as an adjunct to drug therapy in patients contaminated with SARS-CoV-2.

Assessment of Dyspnoea, Physical Activity, and Back Pain Levels in Students at Medical Universities after the COVID-19 Pandemic in Poland

“…In contrast, the consequences of a lack of PA are among the primary risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) worldwide [43] and influence the more difficult course of infectious diseases [43]. Therefore, maintaining proper levels of PA is a critical element in maintaining health, especially after COVID-19 and during prolonged COVID-19 therapy [42][43][44]. During the pandemic, a drop in overall PA was noticed among university students worldwide due to epidemic restrictions [45][46][47].…”

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“…Diet and nutrition are essential, specifically regarding foods rich in protein, vitamins and minerals (Calcuttawala 2022), as well as paying attention to good food hygiene (Coelho-Ravagnani et al 2021). Physical exercise is helpful in preventing chronic diseases, enhancing mental well-being, and reducing the severity of COVID (Castoldi et al 2023, Cerasola et al 2022). Sleep problems were reported during the pandemic (Silva et al 2020).…”