scholarly journals Coronavirus Outbreak in Italy: Physiological Benefits of Home-Based Exercise During Pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Ravalli ◽  
Giuseppe Musumeci
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Exercise Routine ◽  
Physiological Benefits ◽  
At Home

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has forced the hardest-hit populations, like Italians, to radically change their daily habits, starting with social distancing, strict preventive measures, and self-isolation. These precautions also apply to sport-related facilities and activities. The difficulty to practice physical activity during this dramatic moment in time adds to the risks associated with sedentary habits, due to staying all the time at home. Here, the importance and the benefits of maintaining exercise routine, even at home, are emphasized in order to avoid the consequences of inactivity.

scholarly journals Acceptability, Feasibility and Preliminary Evaluation of a Novel, Personalised, Home-Based Physical Activity Intervention for Chronic Heart Failure (Active-at-Home-HF): a Pilot Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nduka C. Okwose ◽  
Leah Avery ◽  
Nicola O’Brien ◽  
Sophie Cassidy ◽  
Sarah J. Charman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Heart Failure ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Chronic Heart Failure ◽  
Physical Activity Intervention ◽  
Step Count ◽  
Home Based ◽  
At Home

Abstract Purpose Less than 10% of heart failure patients in the UK participate in cardiac rehabilitation programmes. The present pilot study evaluated feasibility, acceptability and physiological effects of a novel, personalised, home-based physical activity intervention in chronic heart failure. Methods Twenty patients (68 ± 7 years old, 20% females) with stable chronic heart failure due to reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (31 ± 8 %) participated in a single-group, pilot study assessing the feasibility and acceptability of a 12-week personalised home-based physical activity intervention aiming to increase daily number of steps by 2000 from baseline (Active-at-Home-HF). Patients completed cardiopulmonary exercise testing with non-invasive gas exchange and haemodynamic measurements and quality of life questionnaire pre- and post-intervention. Patients were supported weekly via telephone and average weekly step count data collected using pedometers. Results Forty-three patients were screened and 20 recruited into the study. Seventeen patients (85%) completed the intervention, and 15 (75%) achieved the target step count. Average step count per day increased significantly from baseline to 3 weeks by 2546 (5108 ± 3064 to 7654 ± 3849, P = 0.03, n = 17) and was maintained until week 12 (9022 ± 3942). Following completion of the intervention, no adverse events were recorded and quality of life improved by 4 points (26 ± 18 vs. 22 ± 19). Peak exercise stroke volume increased by 19% (127 ± 34 vs. 151 ± 34 m/beat, P = 0.05), while cardiac index increased by 12% (6.8 ± 1.5 vs. 7.6 ± 2.0 L/min/m2, P = 0.19). Workload and oxygen consumption at anaerobic threshold also increased by 16% (49 ± 16 vs. 59 ± 14 watts, P = 0.01) and 10% (11.5 ± 2.9 vs. 12.8 ± 2.2 ml/kg/min, P = 0.39). Conclusion The Active-at-Home-HF intervention is feasible, acceptable and effective for increasing physical activity in CHF. It may lead to improvements in quality of life, exercise tolerance and haemodynamic function. Trial Registration www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT0367727. Retrospectively registered on 17 September 2018.

scholarly journals PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND COVID-19: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF ITS IMPORTANCE AND THE BEST MEASURES TO BE CARRIED OUT

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Adriano Alberti ◽  
Eliton Marcio Zanoni
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Systematic Literature Review ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Pubmed Database ◽  
Who Standards ◽  
At Home

OBJETIVES: The practice of physical activity is important to control and combat various chronic diseases, including improving the immune system, but in times of pandemic, the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is isolation and social distancing, consequently causing people to become inactive. This work is a systematic review to address the practice of physical activity amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. METHODS: This article aims to address the topic through a systematic review. It consists of a systematic literature review carried out through research in the Pubmed database. Nine articles were selected. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the practice of physical activity is beneficial during the pandemic, but that it should be carried out at home, or in environments that respect WHO standards.

scholarly journals Impact of COVID-19 Restrictions on Western Australian Children’s Physical Activity and Screen Time

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2583
Author(s):  
Andrea Nathan ◽  
Phoebe George ◽  
Michelle Ng ◽  
Elizabeth Wenden ◽  
Pulan Bai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Screen Time ◽  
Outdoor Recreation ◽  
Total Duration ◽  
Outdoor Play ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Western Australian ◽  
Children’S Physical Activity ◽  
At Home

Physical activity is essential for children’s healthy development, yet COVID-19 physical distancing restrictions such as school closures and staying at home, playground closures, and the cancelling of organised community sport have dramatically altered children’s opportunities to be physically active. This study describes changes in levels of physical activity and screen time from February 2020 (i.e., before COVID-19 restrictions were introduced in Western Australia) to May 2020 (i.e., when COVID-19 restrictions were in place). Parents of children aged 5 to 9 years from Western Australia were eligible to participate and recruited through convenience sampling. An online survey instrument that included validated measures of their children’s physical activity (unstructured, organized, home-based, indoor/outdoor active play, dog play/walking), sociodemographic, and other potential confounders was administered to parents. Paired t-tests and mixed ANOVA models assessed changes in physical activity outcomes. The analytic sample comprised parents of 157 children who were 6.9 years of age (SD = 1.7) on average. Overall, weekly minutes of total physical activity (PA) did not change from before to during COVID-19. However, frequency and duration (total and home-based) of unstructured physical activity significantly increased. Outdoor play in the yard or street around the house, outdoor play in the park or playground or outdoor recreation area, and active indoor play at home all significantly increased. Frequency and total duration of organised physical activity significantly declined during COVID-19 distancing. During Western Australian COVID-19 restrictions, there was an increase in young children’s unstructured physical activity and outdoor play and a decrease in organised physical activity. It remains to be seen whether children’s increased physical activity has been sustained with the easing of physical distancing restrictions.

scholarly journals Review of Sleep Problems Related to Social Distancing and Home Confinement During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 87-91
Author(s):  
Wan Seok Seo
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Sleep Problems ◽  
Home School ◽  
Sleep Patterns ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
The World ◽  
Sleep Difficulties ◽  
At Home

Since the first outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in December 2019, we have experienced many changes that we have never ex- perienced before. Governments around the world have instituted various forms of social isolation measures to prevent the spread of COV- ID-19. These measures include social distancing, home confinement, quarantine, and lockdown. Unfortunately, these measures have in- creased the ambiguity of the economic situation and the uncertainty regarding the future. For many individuals, these actions resulted in changes in routines at home, school, and work; changes in roles at home, mental health, and physical activity; and changes in circadian cues. All of these alterations resulted in disruptions in sleep patterns and sleep difficulties. In this paper, the alterations in sleep patterns and the sleep difficulties related to social isolation policies would be reviewed. These include social distancing and home confinement. Finally, meth- ods to improve sleep problems also reviewed.

scholarly journals INFLUENCES OF FAMILY AND HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS ON CHILDREN’S LEVEL OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY DURING SOCIAL DISTANCING DUE TO COVID-19 IN BRAZIL

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristhina Bonilha Huster Siegle ◽  
André Pombo ◽  
Carlos Luz ◽  
Luis Paulo Rodrigues ◽  
Rita Cordovil ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
External Space ◽  
Household Characteristics ◽  
Family And Household ◽  
Brazilian Children ◽  
At Home

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate if the variables child’s sex, age, presence of siblings, parents working remotely, and external space affect the level of physical activity (PA) of Brazilian children during social distancing imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An online questionnaire was applied by the LimeSurvey software from March to April 2020. Children were divided into four age groups, and the questionnaire comprised questions on family and household characteristics, domestic and children’s routines in the period of Brazilian social distancing. Based on the answers concerning children’s activities, the following variable was created: percentage of physical activity (%PA) in one-day period. Analysis of variance and regression analysis were performed to investigate the effect of demographic and parental activities on %PA. Results: The %PA decreases with increasing age, but increases with the availability of external space at home. No significant or interaction effects were observed for other variables. Age and external space at home are predictors of %PA. Conclusions: Household and personal characteristics of Brazilian children influence the level of physical activity performed by them during social distancing. Preventive measures can be adopted in the face of another similar period.

scholarly journals Connecting Social Psychology and Deep Reinforcement Learning: A Probabilistic Predictor on the Intention to Do Home-Based Physical Activity After Message Exposure

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrizia Catellani ◽  
Valentina Carfora ◽  
Marco Piastra
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Reinforcement Learning ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Dynamic Bayesian Network ◽  
Psychological Profile ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Probabilistic Structure ◽  
Intention To Exercise ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
At Home

Previous research has shown that sending personalized messages consistent with the recipient's psychological profile is essential to activate the change toward a healthy lifestyle. In this paper we present an example of how artificial intelligence can support psychology in this process, illustrating the development of a probabilistic predictor in the form of a Dynamic Bayesian Network (DBN). The predictor regards the change in the intention to do home-based physical activity after message exposure. The data used to construct the predictor are those of a study on the effects of framing in communication to promote physical activity at home during the Covid-19 lockdown. The theoretical reference is that of psychosocial research on the effects of framing, according to which similar communicative contents formulated in different ways can be differently effective depending on the characteristics of the recipient. Study participants completed a first questionnaire aimed at measuring the psychosocial dimensions involved in doing physical activity at home. Next, they read recommendation messages formulated with one of four different frames (gain, non-loss, non-gain, and loss). Finally, they completed a second questionnaire measuring their perception of the messages and again the intention to exercise at home. The collected data were analyzed to elicit a DBN, i.e., a probabilistic structure representing the interrelationships between all the dimensions considered in the study. The adopted procedure was aimed to achieve a good balance between explainability and predictivity. The elicited DBN was found to be consistent with the psychosocial theories assumed as reference and able to predict the effectiveness of the different messages starting from the relevant psychosocial dimensions of the recipients. In the next steps of our project, the DBN will form the basis for the training of a Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) system for the synthesis of automatic interaction strategies. In turn, the DRL system will train a Deep Neural Network (DNN) that will guide the online interaction process. The discussion focuses on the advantages of the proposed procedure in terms of interpretability and effectiveness.

Associations Between Physical Activity, Affect Regulation Difficulties, and Mental Health Among Canadian Adolescents at Two Different Points of the COVID-19 Pandemic

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan Ames ◽  
Christina Lauren Robillard ◽  
Brianna Turner ◽  
Mauricio Garcia-Barrera ◽  
Jonathan Rush ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Affect Regulation ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Protective Role ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
At Home

Although physical activity declined with social distancing measures and stay-at-home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic, youth who engaged in more physical activity experienced fewer mental health problems. If and how physical activity maintained its protective role throughout the ongoing pandemic remains unclear. This study models associations between three types of physical activity (indoor, outdoor, with parents), affect regulation, and anxious and depressive symptoms in two adolescent samples (W1: Summer 2020; W2: Winter 2020/21).

scholarly journals Walk At Least 10 Minutes a Day for Adults With Knee Osteoarthritis: Recommendation for Minimal Activity During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2020 ◽  
pp. jrheum.200914
Author(s):  
Jason T. Jakiela ◽  
Esther J. Waugh ◽  
Daniel K. White
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Knee Osteoarthritis ◽  
Serious Illness ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
The World ◽  
At Home

The emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has resulted in unprecedented changes in how the world socially interacts. Limits on contact with others, whether by social distancing or shelter-at-home recommendations, have negatively affected physical activity (PA); this is especially true for adults over the age of 60 who are at high risk of serious illness from COVID-19.

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