Resistance Training Safety during and after the SARS-Cov-2 Outbreak: Practical Recommendations

Abstract

In December of 2019, there was an outbreak of a severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by the coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19) in China. The virus rapidly spread into the whole world causing an unprecedented pandemic and forcing governments to impose a global quarantine, entering an extreme unknown situation. The organizational consequences of quarantine/isolation are absence of organized training and competition, lack of communication among athletes and coaches, inability to move freely, lack of adequate sunlight exposure, and inappropriate training conditions. The reduction of mobility imposed to contain the advance of the SARS-Cov-2 pandemic can negatively affect the physical condition and health of individuals leading to muscle atrophy, progressive loss of muscle strength, and reductions in neuromuscular and mechanical capacities. Resistance training (RT) might be an effective tool to counteract these adverse consequences. RT is considered an essential part of an exercise program due to its numerous health and athletic benefits. However, in the face of the SARS-Cov-2 outbreak, many people might be concerned with safety issues regarding its practice, especially in indoor exercise facilities, such as gyms and fitness centers. These concerns might be associated with RT impact in the immune system, respiratory changes, and contamination due to equipment sharing and agglomeration. In this current opinion article, we provide insights to address these issues to facilitate the return of RT practices under the new logistical and health challenges. We understand that RT can be adapted to allow its performance with measures adopted to control coronavirus outbreak such that the benefits would largely overcome the potential risks. The article provides some practical information to help on its implementation.

Self-Perceived Changes in Physical Activity and the Relation to Life Satisfaction and Rated Physical Capacity in Swedish Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Cross Sectional Study

“…Since both decreased physical activity and lower aerobic capacity are independent risk factors for non-communicable diseases and associated mortality [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ], these findings indicate the challenge in further highlighting the recommendations to both increase physical activity levels and stimulate aerobic training. Since other forms of physical activity, such as strength training, also have shown positive effects on both mental and physical health [ 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 ], all forms of physical activity should be encouraged and promoted.…”

Acute Effects of Surgical and FFP2 Face Masks on Physiological Responses and Strength Performance in Persons with Sarcopenia

“…Moreover, the training characteristics can be a factor influencing the physiological and performance variables when wearing a mask. In this context, a previous study provided some recommendations about resistance training during COVID-19: training with a lower number of repetitions, longer intervals between sets, and controlled movement velocity to reduce the cardiorespiratory stress and the consequent risk of infection due to the lower pulmonary ventilation and dyspnea [ 37 ].…”

Practical Recommendations Relevant to the Use of Resistance Training for COVID-19 Survivors

“…It is important to observe some general precautions for returning to exercise post-COVID-19, like monitoring temperature before training, starting with a muscle strengthening program prior to cardiovascular work, keeping social distancing, observing hygiene, adequate ventilation, and the use of masks when necessary ( So et al, 2004 ; Gentil et al, 2020a ). Another relevant point is the need to carefully evaluate clinical status and supervise patients that have been diagnosed with COVID-19, especially people with cardiac injuries ( Barker-Davies et al, 2020 ), highlighting the need of a multidisciplinary approach.…”