Physical Activity and Pandemics (eBook)

The pandemic of COVID-19 has caused public health-related, and economic consequences regarding lifestyles. Due to social distancing strategies, physical inactivity has increased in various societies, which might lead to an increase in the burden of non-communicable diseases in long term. The health benefits of physical activity consist of a wide range, including physical, mental, and social dimensions. Therefore, this book discusses whether engaging in regular physical activity is effective in preventing COVID-19 infection, reducing the severity of symptoms, reducing mortality, or eliminating COVID-19 complications.

The book will serve as a practical guideline for public health experts and physicians. It covers COVID-19 and physical inactivity prevalence in different regions, physical activity and risk of COVID-19 infection, physical activity and course of COVID-19 infection including disease severity, hospitalization rate, ICU admission, and mortality, physical activity as a vaccine booster in different populations, post- COVID-19 physical rehabilitation, and strategies for enhancing physical activity in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Amirhossein Memari, M.D., Sports Medicine Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Maryam Selk-Ghaffari, M.D., Sports Medicine Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Behnaz Mahdaviani, M.D., Sports Medicine Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Ramin Kordi, M.D., Sports Medicine Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

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The pandemic of COVID-19 has caused public health-related, and economic consequences regarding lifestyles. Due to social distancing strategies, physical inactivity has increased in various societies, which might lead to an increase in the burden of non-communicable diseases in long term. The health benefits of physical activity consist of a wide range, including physical, mental, and social dimensions. Therefore, this book discusses whether engaging in regular physical activity is effective in preventing COVID-19 infection, reducing the severity of symptoms, reducing mortality, or eliminating COVID-19 complications.The book will serve as a practical guideline for public health experts and physicians. It covers COVID-19 and physical inactivity prevalence in different regions, physical activity and risk of COVID-19 infection, physical activity and course of COVID-19 infection including disease severity, hospitalization rate, ICU admission, and mortality, physical activity as a vaccine booster in different populations, post- COVID-19 physical rehabilitation, and strategies for enhancing physical activity in the COVID-19 pandemic.