Back to Search Results

Sustaining efficient immune functions with regular physical exercise in the COVID-19 era and beyond.

Health Sciences Research Unit, Nursing (UICISA:E), Nursing School of Coimbra (ESEnfC), Coimbra, Portugal. N2i - Polytechnic Institute of Maia, Maia, Portugal. University of Coimbra-Research Unit for Sport and Physical Activity (CIDAF, UID/PTD/04213/2019) at Faculty of Sport Science and Physical Education, (FCDEF-UC), Portugal. Post-doctoral Researcher, Rehabilitation Sciences Program, Rua Gabriel Monteiro da Silva, Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL), Alfenas, Brazil. Multidisciplinary Research Nucleus in Physical Education (NIMEF), Physical Education Department, Federal University of Tocantins (UFT), Tocantinópolis, Brazil. Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), UC_Biotech, University of Coimbra, Cantanhede, Portugal. Institute of Physical Activity Sciences and Sports (ICAFE), MSc/PhD Interdisciplinary Program in Health Sciences, Cruzeiro do Sul University, São Paulo, Brazil. Federal University of Sao Paulo (UNIFESP), Post-graduation Program in Sciences of Human Movement and Rehabilitation, Santos, Brazil. Post-Graduation Program in Bioengineering and in Biomedical Engineering, University Brazil, São Paulo, Brazil. School of Medicine, Anhembi Morumbi University, São José dos Campos, Brazil. Brazilian Institute of Teaching and Research in Pulmonary and Exercise Immunology, São José dos Campos, Brazil. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, ENT Lab, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil. Post-Graduation Program in Health Sciences, Santo Amaro University (UNISA), São Paulo, Brazil.

European journal of clinical investigation. 2021;(5):e13485
Full text from:

Other resources

Abstract

The new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) appearance in Wuhan, China, did rise the new virus disease (COVID-19), which spread globally in a short time, leading the World Health Organization to declare a new global pandemic. To contain and mitigate the spread of SARS-CoV-2, specific public health procedures were implemented in virtually all countries, with a significant impact on society, making it difficult to keep the regular practice of physical activity. It is widely accepted that an active lifestyle contributes to the improvement of general health and preservation of cardiovascular, respiratory, osteo-muscular and immune system capacities. The positive effects of regular physical activity on the immune system have emerged as a pivotal trigger of general health, underlying the beneficial effects of physical activity on multiple physiological systems. Accordingly, recent studies have already pointed out the negative impact of physical inactivity caused by the social isolation imposed by the public sanitary authorities due to COVID-19. Nevertheless, there are still no current narrative reviews evaluating the real impact of COVID-19 on active lifestyle or even discussing the possible beneficial effects of exercise-promoted immune upgrade against the severity or progression of COVID-19. Based on the consensus in the scientific literature, in this review, we discuss how an exercise adherence could adequately improve immune responses in times of the 'COVID-19 Era and beyond'.

Methodological quality

Publication Type : Review

Metadata