Kristal Wong 22′
Figure 1. A woman performing a prayer twist, a popular yoga pose, in the outdoors. Source: Wikimedia Commons
Currently, the global COVID-19 pandemic is sweeping the nation. Millions have been called to stay at home, businesses and public buildings are closed, and business for Zoom and Netflix is booming. Many are already tired of these new lives, limited to the confines of the home with much more time on their hands than ever. Perhaps this unprecedented time calls for a time for us to do the “X,” which we previously designated for “when we have more time.” For many Americans, this “X” is “being healthy” or “exercising.”
According to an international team led by Dr. RJ Simpson of the University of Arizona’s College of Medicine, exercise has significant benefits during a pandemic3. He debunked the popular myth that strenuous exercise has immunosuppressive effects 2. In his study, cells including essential immune cells were tracked in mice pre and post strenuous exercise. The data show that although cells do change phenotypically as a response to exercise, they do return to normal within a few hours. When tracking migration patterns, Simpson notes a “migration” of immune cells to the lung which could help the body’s immune defense against respiratory diseases such as COVID-19. With these findings, Simpson argues, exercise can actually benefit our immune system3.
Unfortunately, most public gyms are closed. But there are many ways to exercise from home. For those without gym equipment in their homes, access to the internet allows people to search for “at-home,” “apartment friendly,” and “no equipment” workouts. Certain apps and online tutorials allow people to pick and choose what moves they do and which body parts to target, the type of activity, and even the duration of the workout. According to researchers at Iowa State University led by Dr. Panteleimon Ekkekakis, to see the long-term benefits of exercise, activity must be constant1. The team tracked their subjects’ different levels of enjoyment performing exercises of different intensities, such as HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) and moderate-level runs. Ekkekakis highlighted that the more a person enjoys their activity, the more they would be willing to exercise again. In his study, Ekkekakis finds that HIIT was not rated highly for all participants, alluding to the fact that HIIT may not “work” for everyone1. For those who prefer exercising in a wide-open space, activities such as outdoor walks, hikes, and bike rides are good ways to get daily exercise. And what better time than now to find what modes of exercise we enjoy?
Instead of being concerned with a reduced immune response due to exercise, Simpson argues that the greater concern with exercising during a pandemic is minimizing exposure from infected individuals2. In other words, it is still important to exercise caution when exercising in the outdoors. The scope of data regarding the virus, it’s life cycle, mechanisms, and its strength is still not completely known, so isolation from affected individuals is of paramount concern. Scientists around the world are working to help combat the COVID-19. In the meantime, we must listen to our national and local guidelines and find innovative ways to keep healthy.
References:
- Iowa State University (n.d.) High-intensity workouts won’t work for most people. ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 3, 2020, from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/10/171003124821.htm
- University of Bath (n.d.) Regular exercise benefits immunity — even in isolation. ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 3, 2020, from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200331162314.htm
- Simpson, R. J., Campbell, J. P., Gleeson, M., Krüger, K., Nieman, D. C., Pyne, D. B., Turner, J. E., & Walsh, N. P. (2020). Can exercise affect immune function to increase susceptibility to infection? Exercise Immunology Review, 26, 8–22. PMID: 32139352