Practical Recommendations for Maintaining Active Lifestyle during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Diminished volumes of habitual physical activity and increased sedentary levels have been observed as a result of COVID-19 home-confinement. Consequences of inactivity, including a higher mortality rate and poorer general health and fitness, have been reported. This systematic review aimed to provide practical recommendations for maintaining active lifestyles during pandemics. In May 2020, two electronic databases (PubMed; Web of Science) were used to search for relevant studies. A total of 1206 records were screened by two researchers. Thirty-one relevant studies were included in this systematic review, in which the methodological quality was assessed. With regard to six studies, which explicitly dealt with physical activity during COVID-19, the evidence level is classified by three articles to level II, and in the other three to level VI. Regarding the physical activity recommendations in these papers, three of them were classified to a medium, and the same number to a weak evidence base. Of the 25 papers which refer to other pandemics and/or isolation situations, one was classified to evidence level I, four were ranged to level II, three to level III, one to level V, and the others to level VI. This systematic review revealed that reduced physical activity levels are of serious concern during home confinement in pandemic times. The recommendations provided by many international organizations to maintain active lifestyles during these times mainly target the general population, with less consideration for vulnerable populations (e.g., older adults, people with health issues). Therefore, personalized and supervised physical activity programs are urgently needed, with the option to group-play physical activity programs (e.g., exergames). These can be assisted, delivered, and disseminated worldwide through information and communication technology solutions. If it is permitted and safe, being active outside in daylight is advised, with an effort level of mild to moderate using the rating of perceived exertion scale. Relaxation techniques should be integrated into the daily routine to reduce stress levels. On the evidence base and levels of the included articles in this review, the results need to be interpreted with caution. Given that policies are different across regions and countries, further research is needed to categorize recommendations according to different social-distancing scenarios.

Autoren

Ellen Bentlage
Achraf Ammar
Daniella How
Mona Ahmed
Khaled Trabelsi
Hamdi Chtourou
Michael Brach

DOI

10.3390/ijerph17176265

eISSN

1660-4601

Ausgabe der Veröffentlichung

17

Zeitschrift

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Sprache

en

Online publication date

2020

Paginierung

6265 - 6265

Status

Published online

Herausgeber

MDPI AG

Herausgeber URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17176265

Datum der Datenerfassung

2020

Titel

Practical Recommendations for Maintaining Active Lifestyle during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Literature Review

Ausgabe der Zeitschrift

17

Datenquelle: Crossref

Abstract

Diminished volumes of habitual physical activity and increased sedentary levels have been observed as a result of COVID-19 home-confinement. Consequences of inactivity, including a higher mortality rate and poorer general health and fitness, have been reported. This systematic review aimed to provide practical recommendations for maintaining active lifestyles during pandemics. In May 2020, two electronic databases (PubMed; Web of Science) were used to search for relevant studies. A total of 1206 records were screened by two researchers. Thirty-one relevant studies were included in this systematic review, in which the methodological quality was assessed. With regard to six studies, which explicitly dealt with physical activity during COVID-19, the evidence level is classified by three articles to level II, and in the other three to level VI. Regarding the physical activity recommendations in these papers, three of them were classified to a medium, and the same number to a weak evidence base. Of the 25 papers which refer to other pandemics and/or isolation situations, one was classified to evidence level I, four were ranged to level II, three to level III, one to level V, and the others to level VI. This systematic review revealed that reduced physical activity levels are of serious concern during home confinement in pandemic times. The recommendations provided by many international organizations to maintain active lifestyles during these times mainly target the general population, with less consideration for vulnerable populations (e.g., older adults, people with health issues). Therefore, personalized and supervised physical activity programs are urgently needed, with the option to group-play physical activity programs (e.g., exergames). These can be assisted, delivered, and disseminated worldwide through information and communication technology solutions. If it is permitted and safe, being active outside in daylight is advised, with an effort level of mild to moderate using the rating of perceived exertion scale. Relaxation techniques should be integrated into the daily routine to reduce stress levels. On the evidence base and levels of the included articles in this review, the results need to be interpreted with caution. Given that policies are different across regions and countries, further research is needed to categorize recommendations according to different social-distancing scenarios.

Addresses

Institute of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany.

Autoren

Ellen Bentlage
Achraf Ammar
Daniella How
Mona Ahmed
Khaled Trabelsi
Hamdi Chtourou
Michael Brach

DOI

10.3390/ijerph17176265

eISSN

1660-4601

Externe Identifier

PubMed Identifier: 32872154
PubMed Central ID: PMC7503956

Open access

true

ISSN

1661-7827

Ausgabe der Veröffentlichung

17

Zeitschrift

International journal of environmental research and public health

Schlüsselwörter

Humans
Pneumonia, Viral
Coronavirus Infections
Exercise
Life Style
Health Promotion
Pandemics
Betacoronavirus
COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2

Sprache

eng

Medium

Electronic

Online publication date

2020

Open access status

Open Access

Paginierung

E6265

Datum der Veröffentlichung

2020

Status

Published

Publisher licence

CC BY

Datum der Datenerfassung

2020

Titel

Practical Recommendations for Maintaining Active Lifestyle during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Literature Review.

Sub types

Systematic Review
review-article
Journal Article

Ausgabe der Zeitschrift

17

Files

https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/17/6265/pdf?version=1598602707 https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC7503956?pdf=render

Datenquelle: Europe PubMed Central

Abstract

Diminished volumes of habitual physical activity and increased sedentary levels have been observed as a result of COVID-19 home-confinement. Consequences of inactivity, including a higher mortality rate and poorer general health and fitness, have been reported. This systematic review aimed to provide practical recommendations for maintaining active lifestyles during pandemics. In May 2020, two electronic databases (PubMed; Web of Science) were used to search for relevant studies. A total of 1206 records were screened by two researchers. Thirty-one relevant studies were included in this systematic review, in which the methodological quality was assessed. With regard to six studies, which explicitly dealt with physical activity during COVID-19, the evidence level is classified by three articles to level II, and in the other three to level VI. Regarding the physical activity recommendations in these papers, three of them were classified to a medium, and the same number to a weak evidence base. Of the 25 papers which refer to other pandemics and/or isolation situations, one was classified to evidence level I, four were ranged to level II, three to level III, one to level V, and the others to level VI. This systematic review revealed that reduced physical activity levels are of serious concern during home confinement in pandemic times. The recommendations provided by many international organizations to maintain active lifestyles during these times mainly target the general population, with less consideration for vulnerable populations (e.g., older adults, people with health issues). Therefore, personalized and supervised physical activity programs are urgently needed, with the option to group-play physical activity programs (e.g., exergames). These can be assisted, delivered, and disseminated worldwide through information and communication technology solutions. If it is permitted and safe, being active outside in daylight is advised, with an effort level of mild to moderate using the rating of perceived exertion scale. Relaxation techniques should be integrated into the daily routine to reduce stress levels. On the evidence base and levels of the included articles in this review, the results need to be interpreted with caution. Given that policies are different across regions and countries, further research is needed to categorize recommendations according to different social-distancing scenarios.

Date of acceptance

2020

Autoren

Ellen Bentlage
Achraf Ammar
Daniella How
Mona Ahmed
Khaled Trabelsi
Hamdi Chtourou
Michael Brach

Autoren-URL

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32872154

DOI

10.3390/ijerph17176265

eISSN

1660-4601

Externe Identifier

PubMed Central ID: PMC7503956

Ausgabe der Veröffentlichung

17

Zeitschrift

Int J Environ Res Public Health

Schlüsselwörter

COVID-19
pandemic
physical activity
quarantine
recommendations
social isolation
Betacoronavirus
COVID-19
Coronavirus Infections
Exercise
Health Promotion
Humans
Life Style
Pandemics
Pneumonia, Viral
SARS-CoV-2

Sprache

eng

Country

Switzerland

PII

ijerph17176265

Datum der Veröffentlichung

2020

Status

Published online

Datum, an dem der Datensatz öffentlich gemacht wurde

2020

Titel

Practical Recommendations for Maintaining Active Lifestyle during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Literature Review.

Sub types

Journal Article
Systematic Review

Ausgabe der Zeitschrift

17

Datenquelle: PubMed

Practical Recommendations for Maintaining Active Lifestyle during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Literature Review

Files

Werkzeuge