The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Physical Activity, Function, and Quality of Life

Abstract

It is now more than 2 years since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected people around the globe, particularly older persons, who are at the highest risk of severe disease. In addition, many of those who survive will have symptoms that persist after the initial infection. COVID-19 infection severely affects function and mobility through its impact on the musculoskeletal system. This article focuses on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity in older people and subsequent effects and implications for function and quality of life.

Keywords: COVID-19; Exercise; Older persons; Physical activity; Quality of life.

Fig. 1

How acute and chronic physical exercise could interfere with immune system and vaccine efficacy, based on published studies. (A) Subjects who exercise regularly and performed acute exercise just before vaccination; (B) subjects who exercise regularly and did not perform acute exercise just before vaccination; (C) subjects with a sedentary lifestyle who performed acute exercise just before vaccination; (D) subjects with a sedentary lifestyle who did not perform acute exercise just before vaccination. (E) List of main influences of physical exercise on the immune system. Prevaccination is defined as days or months before vaccination; vaccination is defined as the moment of injection; chronic exercise is defined as a regular physical exercise in months or years; acute exercise is defined as moderate/vigorous physical exercise a few minutes or hours before vaccination.