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Physical Fitness and Exercise during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Exercise and Health-Related Quality of Life".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 May 2025 | Viewed by 8335

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Dr. Garry Kuan

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Department of Life Sciences, Brunel University, London UB8 3PH, UK
Interests: sport psychology; sport science; neuro-psychophysiology; music therapy
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The outbreak of the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic ushered in a period of global turmoil and uncertainty. As the world grappled with the profound impact of the virus, it underscored humanity's collective vulnerability, shedding light on the fragility of our health and well-being. Of particular interest to scientists and researchers are the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on various demographics, including students, athletes, high-performance competitors, and individuals with disabilities. The pandemic has posed unique challenges for maintaining physical fitness, adherence to exercise routines, and rehabilitation efforts in the face of lockdowns, restrictions, and disruptions to daily routines. This shift in focus towards understanding the impact of the pandemic on physical health and rehabilitation has become a cornerstone of scientific inquiry in the current landscape.

This Special Issue seeks to showcase the latest developments and insights from recent research on physical fitness and exercise during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. By delving into methodological and experimental studies, this Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the evolving landscape of physical fitness, exercise interventions, and rehabilitation strategies in the context of the pandemic. Through a multidisciplinary lens, this Special Issue also aims to explore the resilience, adaptability, and innovative approaches employed to navigate the challenges posed by the ongoing global health crisis. As researchers continue to unravel the complexities of maintaining physical well-being in the midst of a pandemic, this Special Issue offers a platform to disseminate cutting-edge research, foster dialogue, and inspire novel approaches to promote physical fitness and exercise resilience in a post-pandemic world.

Dr. Garry Kuan
Guest Editor

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Research

10 pages, 756 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Importance of Return to Usual and School Activities After Social Isolation in Recovering Vitamin D Concentrations, Physical Fitness, and Motor Performance in Adolescents

by Frederico Bento de Moraes, Jr., Maiara Cristina Tadiotto, Brenda Lenardt, Jorge Mota, Oslei de Matos and Neiva Leite

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(11), 1494; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21111494 - 10 Nov 2024

Viewed by 529

Abstract

This study aimed to observe adolescents’ changes and individual responses regarding the anthropometry, cardiometabolic profile, vitamin D concentrations, physical fitness, and motor competence upon immediate return and three months of school activities after lockdown. Methods: The study included 28 adolescents (14.8 ± 0.8 years) of both sexes. Anthropometric measures, body composition, cardiometabolic parameters, physical fitness, and motor competence were assessed. A paired t-test was used to compare the frequencies of respondents and the effect size of the results, considering significant p < 0.05. Results: After three months of school activities, adolescents changed their body composition, reducing % fat mass (p = 0.008) and increasing fat-free mass (p = 0.008). In terms of physical fitness, there was increased abdominal resistance (p < 0.001; ES = −0.42) and motor performance, with reduction in supine-to-stand test time (p < 0.001; ES = 0.53). There were very beneficial effects in reducing resting heart rate (p ≤ 0.001; ES = 0.61) and increasing vitamin D concentrations (p < 0.001; ES = −0.61). After three months of a school routine, the proportions of change in respondents were similar between girls and boys and eutrophic individuals and overweight individuals. Conclusions: Returning to school activities after lockdown was important for the recovery of vitamin D concentrations, physical fitness, and motor competence, whose responses were independent of the level of adiposity and sex of the adolescents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Fitness and Exercise during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic)

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14 pages, 1233 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Online and Face-to-Face Mat Pilates Training for Long COVID-19 Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial on Health Outcomes

by Ana Clara Ribeiro Cunha, Juliana Cristina Silva, Caroline Pereira Garcês, Tássia Magnabosco Sisconeto, João Luiz Rezende Nascimento, Ana Luiza Amaral, Thulio Marquez Cunha, Igor Moraes Mariano and Guilherme Morais Puga

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(10), 1385; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21101385 - 19 Oct 2024

Viewed by 1043

Abstract

This study investigated the impacts of online and face-to-face Mat Pilates training in adults with persistent symptoms of long COVID on health outcomes. Forty-nine patients (52 ± 5.85 yr.) diagnosed with long COVID related to fatigue symptoms were randomly included in three groups: online Mat Pilates training (n = 16), face-to-face Mat Pilates training (n = 15), and a control group (n = 18) without training. Mat Pilates training was conducted three times a week for 12 weeks. Fatigue, functional capacity, anthropometrics, body composition, and cardiometabolic markers were assessed before and after the interventions. Two-factor Generalized Estimating Equation analyses identified significant differences with Bonferroni post hoc testing (p < 0.05). After the intervention, only the face-to-face Mat Pilates training group had an improved total, physical and mental fatigue, trunk isometric strength, upper limb muscle endurance strength, and aerobic capacity (p < 0.05). No changes were found in fat mass, muscle mass, free fat mass, % of fat, body mass, body mass index, or waist and hip circumferences. No significant changes were observed in blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, or blood pressure (p > 0.05). Our results highlight the potential of face-to-face Mat Pilates training as an effective intervention to mitigate persistent symptoms of long COVID related to fatigue and functional capacities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Fitness and Exercise during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic)

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10 pages, 2154 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sex-Based Differences in Pulmonary Function and Cardiopulmonary Response 30 Months Post-COVID-19: A Brazilian Multicentric Study

by Cássia da Luz Goulart, Guilherme Peixoto Tinoco Arêas, Mauricio Milani, Fernanda Facioli dos Reis Borges, Juliana Ribeiro Magalhães, Guilherme Dionir Back, Audrey Borghi-Silva, Luciano Fonseca Lemos Oliveira, André Ribeiro de Paula, Carolina Coimbra Marinho, Déborah Pereira Prado, Celso Nascimento de Almeida, Cristiane Maria Carvalho Costa Dias, Vinícius Afonso Gomes, Luiz Eduardo Fonteles Ritt, Leandro Tolfo Franzoni, Ricardo Stein, Mansueto Gomes Neto, Gerson Cipriano Junior and Fernando Almeida-Val

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(10), 1293; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21101293 - 27 Sep 2024

Viewed by 940

Abstract

Aim: (I) to verify if there are sex differences in respiratory function, respiratory muscle strength, and effort limitation in individuals recovered from severe acute COVID-19 30 months after the initial infection, and (II) to evaluate the influence of length of stay on cardiorespiratory capacity among men and women. Methods: Cross-sectional observational multicentric study with participants from five Brazilian states (São Paulo, Amazonas, Minas Gerais, Bahia, and Brasília). We assessed lung function and respiratory muscle strength by maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximum expiratory pressure (MEP), and cardiorespiratory fitness by cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET). Results: 86 individuals were stratified by sex (48 women and 38 men). Females had significantly longer hospitalization for acute COVID-19 (p < 0.05) and showed a marked reduction in MIP (cmH₂O and % predicted). Regarding the CPET, women presented lower

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O₂% predicted, O₂ pulse, and oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES, % predicted) (p < 0.05). In addition, women also had greater abnormal combinations between RER < 1.10, OUES < 80% predicted, VE/VVM < 15% [3 (6.2%)] and

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O₂% predicted < 80%,

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CO₂ slope and

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O₂/workload < 8.4 mL/min/W [8 (17%)]. The regression analysis showed a significant influence of age, length of hospitalization (< and >10 days), and FEV₁/FVC (%) on the

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O₂ peak (mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹). Secondarily, we found that women hospitalized for more than 10 days had worse O₂ pulse (p = 0.03), OUES % predicted (p < 0.001), and worse

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O₂% predicted (p < 0.009). Conclusion: Women exhibited more pronounced impairments in several key indicators of cardiopulmonary function 30 months post-infection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Fitness and Exercise during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic)

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14 pages, 675 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Physical Activity among Mostly Older, Overweight Black Women Living in the Rural Alabama Black Belt

by Whitney N. Neal, Erica A. Schleicher, Kerri Baron, Robert A. Oster, Nashira I. Brown, Wendy Demark-Wahnefried, Maria Pisu, Monica L. Baskin, Kelsey B. Parrish, William Walker Cole, Mohanraj Thirumalai and Dori W. Pekmezi

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(24), 7180; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20247180 - 15 Dec 2023

Viewed by 2792

Abstract

Despite well-documented global declines in physical activity (PA) during the COVID-19 pandemic, little is known regarding the specific impact among underserved, rural Alabama counties. This is concerning as this region was already disproportionately burdened by inactivity and related chronic diseases and was among the hardest hit by COVID-19. Thus, the current study examined the effect of COVID-19 on PA in four rural Alabama counties. An ancillary survey was administered between March 2020 and August 2021 to the first cohort (N = 171) of participants enrolled in a larger PA trial. Main outcomes of this survey included the perceived impact of COVID-19 on PA, leisure-time PA, and social cognitive theory (SCT) constructs at 3 months. Almost half of the participants reported being less active during the pandemic (49.7%) and endorsed that COVID-19 made PA more difficult (47.4%), citing concerns such as getting sick from exercising outside of the home (70.4%) and discomfort wearing a face mask while exercising (58%). Perceived COVID-19 impact on PA was significantly associated with education, household dependents, and gender (p’s < 0.05). More women, parents, and college graduates reported that the COVID-19 pandemic made PA more difficult. Overall, there were no significant associations between PA, SCT constructs, or perceived COVID-19 impact on PA scores at 3 months. While the pandemic made PA difficult for many participants, these barriers were not associated with leisure-time PA levels or related theoretical mechanisms of action, which bodes well for the success of our ongoing intervention efforts and the resiliency of these communities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Fitness and Exercise during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic)

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12 pages, 356 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sports and the Pandemic: The Impact of COVID-19 on Active Living and Life Satisfaction of Climbers

by David Jungwirth and Daniela Haluza

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(3), 1964; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20031964 - 20 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2102

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant changes in every aspect of our lives. Because of the measures imposed, people were only allowed to leave their homes for certain purposes, and all types of cultural and sports events were canceled. Climbers were greatly affected by these limited options for regular physical activity outside of the home environment. Little is known about the crisis’ effects on the climbing community in German-speaking regions. Thus, we surveyed 1028 German-speaking climbers (mean age 34.6 years, SD 10.4; 50.4% females) from December 2020 to February 2021. A cross-sectional online survey collected data on climbing frequency and preferences as well as levels of life satisfaction, using the standardized Short Life Satisfaction Questionnaire for Lockdowns (SLSQL) before and during the crisis. Results showed that due to the pandemic, study subjects climbed less frequently, preferred outdoor locations to climb, and showed decreased life satisfaction scores (21%, (d = 0.87, p < 0.001). In conclusion, these findings highlighted that the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative effect on climbing sports activities and life satisfaction in this study sample. To preserve physical and mental health, indoor and outdoor sport activities should be continued as much as possible with reasonable hygiene concepts in place. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Fitness and Exercise during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic)

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