International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

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Dear Colleagues,

The outbreak of the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic ushered in a period of global turmoil and uncertainty. As the world grappled with the profound impact of the virus, it underscored humanity's collective vulnerability, shedding light on the fragility of our health and well-being. Of particular interest to scientists and researchers are the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on various demographics, including students, athletes, high-performance competitors, and individuals with disabilities. The pandemic has posed unique challenges for maintaining physical fitness, adherence to exercise routines, and rehabilitation efforts in the face of lockdowns, restrictions, and disruptions to daily routines. This shift in focus towards understanding the impact of the pandemic on physical health and rehabilitation has become a cornerstone of scientific inquiry in the current landscape.

This Special Issue seeks to showcase the latest developments and insights from recent research on physical fitness and exercise during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. By delving into methodological and experimental studies, this Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the evolving landscape of physical fitness, exercise interventions, and rehabilitation strategies in the context of the pandemic. Through a multidisciplinary lens, this Special Issue also aims to explore the resilience, adaptability, and innovative approaches employed to navigate the challenges posed by the ongoing global health crisis. As researchers continue to unravel the complexities of maintaining physical well-being in the midst of a pandemic, this Special Issue offers a platform to disseminate cutting-edge research, foster dialogue, and inspire novel approaches to promote physical fitness and exercise resilience in a post-pandemic world.

Dr. Garry Kuan
Guest Editor

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Research

14 pages, 675 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Physical Activity among Mostly Older, Overweight Black Women Living in the Rural Alabama Black Belt

by Whitney N. Neal, Erica A. Schleicher, Kerri Baron, Robert A. Oster, Nashira I. Brown, Wendy Demark-Wahnefried, Maria Pisu, Monica L. Baskin, Kelsey B. Parrish, William Walker Cole, Mohanraj Thirumalai and Dori W. Pekmezi

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(24), 7180; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20247180 - 15 Dec 2023

Viewed by 2088

Abstract

Despite well-documented global declines in physical activity (PA) during the COVID-19 pandemic, little is known regarding the specific impact among underserved, rural Alabama counties. This is concerning as this region was already disproportionately burdened by inactivity and related chronic diseases and was among the hardest hit by COVID-19. Thus, the current study examined the effect of COVID-19 on PA in four rural Alabama counties. An ancillary survey was administered between March 2020 and August 2021 to the first cohort (N = 171) of participants enrolled in a larger PA trial. Main outcomes of this survey included the perceived impact of COVID-19 on PA, leisure-time PA, and social cognitive theory (SCT) constructs at 3 months. Almost half of the participants reported being less active during the pandemic (49.7%) and endorsed that COVID-19 made PA more difficult (47.4%), citing concerns such as getting sick from exercising outside of the home (70.4%) and discomfort wearing a face mask while exercising (58%). Perceived COVID-19 impact on PA was significantly associated with education, household dependents, and gender (p’s < 0.05). More women, parents, and college graduates reported that the COVID-19 pandemic made PA more difficult. Overall, there were no significant associations between PA, SCT constructs, or perceived COVID-19 impact on PA scores at 3 months. While the pandemic made PA difficult for many participants, these barriers were not associated with leisure-time PA levels or related theoretical mechanisms of action, which bodes well for the success of our ongoing intervention efforts and the resiliency of these communities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Fitness and Exercise during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic)

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12 pages, 356 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sports and the Pandemic: The Impact of COVID-19 on Active Living and Life Satisfaction of Climbers

by David Jungwirth and Daniela Haluza

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(3), 1964; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20031964 - 20 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1658

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant changes in every aspect of our lives. Because of the measures imposed, people were only allowed to leave their homes for certain purposes, and all types of cultural and sports events were canceled. Climbers were greatly affected by these limited options for regular physical activity outside of the home environment. Little is known about the crisis’ effects on the climbing community in German-speaking regions. Thus, we surveyed 1028 German-speaking climbers (mean age 34.6 years, SD 10.4; 50.4% females) from December 2020 to February 2021. A cross-sectional online survey collected data on climbing frequency and preferences as well as levels of life satisfaction, using the standardized Short Life Satisfaction Questionnaire for Lockdowns (SLSQL) before and during the crisis. Results showed that due to the pandemic, study subjects climbed less frequently, preferred outdoor locations to climb, and showed decreased life satisfaction scores (21%, (d = 0.87, p < 0.001). In conclusion, these findings highlighted that the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative effect on climbing sports activities and life satisfaction in this study sample. To preserve physical and mental health, indoor and outdoor sport activities should be continued as much as possible with reasonable hygiene concepts in place. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Fitness and Exercise during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic)

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