Should we wait for vaccine against COVID-19 or also look towards other possible options to reduce mortality rate of Corona virus. Can Physiotherapists critically analyze the effect of exercise in Corona patients as exercise has cardio-respiratory effects as well as influence on Immunity.
Need your help and suggestions please?
There is no evidence to date.
This is a respiratory disease though and it may not so related to physical activities in the recovery stage.
Until now , no evidence support this subject.. But I think.. Regular exercise can produce a number of favorable changes in the body, allowing it to work more efficiently with improving lung capacity and lung function. However, these improvements can only work to alleviate the symptoms of lung disease.
Sincerely
Thanks to all.
Alyaa I. Naser, Zeashan H. Khan thanks for shearing your precious views. Yes exercise has beneficial effects over immunity and cardio-respiratory system but still there is lack of evidence to support it in COVID-19 patients.
Ali Cheshmehzangi, Thiago Matias yes sir there are no sufficient evidence to support it regarding COVID-19.
The human immune system is a highly intricate network of cells and molecules designed to keep the host free from infection and disease. Exercise is known to have a profound impact on the normal functioning of the immune system. Having higher age and sex-adjusted scores for cardiorespiratory fitness and performing regular exercise of moderate- to vigorous-intensity exercise that fall within ACSM guidelines has been shown to improve immune responses to vaccination, lower chronic low-grade inflammation, and improve various immune markers in several disease states including cancer, HIV, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cognitive impairment and obesity. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has raised a lot of questions regarding how exercise can protect us from infection by boosting immunity. This is becoming more pertinent as many of us have restricted access to the gyms and parks where we would normally undertake exercise and physical activity regimens. Compounding this problem are the known negative effects of social isolation and confinement on immunity. Glucocorticoids such as cortisol are elevated during periods of isolation and confinement and can inhibit many critical functions of our immune system. When we are stressed, the ability of our T-cells to multiply in response to infectious agents is markedly reduced, as is the ability of certain effector lymphocytes (e.g., NK-cells and CD8+ T-cells) to recognize and kill cells in our body that have become cancerous or have been infected with viruses. It is also vitally important that our immune cells maintain their ability to redeploy so that they may ‘patrol’ vulnerable areas in or body (e.g., the upper respiratory tract and the lungs) to prevent viruses and other pathogens from gaining a foothold. This process is also important to minimize the impact of the virus and to expedite viral resolution should we become infected.
Regular exercise or physical activity improves the immunity of the body thus providing protection against the infectious diseases such as COVID-19.
Have a look at this useful RG link for more insight.
Article Can exercise affect immune function to increase susceptibili...
We do not know exactly if or how exercise increases your immunity to certain illnesses. There are several theories. However, none of these theories have been proven. Some of these theories are:
- Physical activity may help flush bacteria out of the lungs and airways. This may reduce your chance of getting a cold, flu, or other illness.
- Exercise causes change in antibodies and white blood cells (WBC). WBCs are the body's immune system cells that fight disease. These antibodies or WBCs circulate more rapidly, so they could detect illnesses earlier than they might have before. However, no one knows whether these changes help prevent infections.
- The brief rise in body temperature during and right after exercise may prevent bacteria from growing. This temperature rise may help the body fight infection better. (This is similar to what happens when you have a fever.)
- Exercise slows down the release of stress hormones. Some stress increases the chance of illness. Lower stress hormones may protect against illness.
Exercise is good for you, but, you should not overdo it. People who already exercise should not exercise more just to increase their immunity. Heavy, long-term exercise (such as marathon running and intense gym training) could actually cause harm.
Studies have shown that people who follow a moderately energetic lifestyle, benefit most from starting (and sticking to) an exercise program.
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007165.htm