Everyday physical activity: out of shape thanks to the Corona pandemic?

Social distancing, working from home, limited social activities: the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted many people to become more inactive, sedentary, and therefore more susceptible to ailments. Simple fitness programs and regular exercises can help counteract the negative effects of inertness. And paradoxical as it may sound, the pandemic also gives us the chance to get moving again.

Dr. Thore Haag and Dr. Christian Schneider are sports medicine specialists who developed the "Fit for Life" program, which they will present at the MEDICA MEDICINE + SPORTS CONFERENCE 2021 in Düsseldorf, Germany. MEDICA-tradefair.com interviewed the two experts.

Dr. Haag, Dr. Schneider, what does "Fit for Life" mean?

Dr. Thore Haag: Staying physically fit for life means your quality of life is less likely to be restricted by reduced mobility in the future. It means that despite getting older and being subjected to the common age-related diseases and ailments that occur as part of the aging process, people stay active and mobile and keep moving.

We have all been there: The coronavirus pandemic forced us to stay at home and move a little less. How has Covid-19 affected our fitness levels?

Schneider: We work from home, we do not walk or use our bikes as much as we used to, and we are likely to sit longer in front of the computer. In the worst-case scenario, our workspace is located right next to the refrigerator, which means we also change our eating habits as a result. All this has made us more sedentary and less fit than we were pre-pandemic. Sitting for long periods of time has always been bad for your health. The coronavirus pandemic has only exacerbated the issue.

An office workplace means you occasionally get up and move around by going to meetings, for example. The office also features equipment such as height-adjustable or standing desks that promote a healthier lifestyle at work. Working from home forced many to quickly create some type of different arrangement, which affects the level of fitness and the overall way you move throughout the day.

As physicians, some patients already tell us they sit all day long to work, they barely move and do not have time to be active. That is why some injuries or illnesses can be linked to the pandemic.

How does your exercise program help combat these negative effects? And is that one of your goals?

Haag: Yes, we essentially created several programs with different exercises. We encourage the patients of our practice to do these physical activities. The goal is to maintain or improve functions such as joint mobility, to counteract wear and tear injuries and subsequent symptoms involving the joints, spine, and spinal discs.

We offer both high-intensity program and routines that you can do while sitting down. These include flexibility exercises, quick workout routines, and morning workouts for office employees that are easy to incorporate into their work schedule to balance the immobility we all encounter throughout the day.

Does your program target a specific group of people or patients?

Schneider: We deliberately kept the programs as general as possible to fit everyone. We have routines that promote full body mobility and morning workouts that explicitly target core strength. One of our programs is called "pandemic workout to increase endurance and flexibility". We also have a fall prevention routine designed for the elderly.

The exercises benefit both healthy people in terms of prevention and those who are sick to help them get back on track and fit again. Of course, the person’s individual condition always plays a role as well. We have created very easy to very complex routines that are based on "Ran Rücken", a research project by the national research network MiSpEx (Medicine in Spine Exercise). And that means we truly have something for everyone.

How can you motivate people to return to exercise post-pandemic? And do you even have to encourage them at this point?

Haag: The pandemic’s end depends on what definition you use. Admittedly, even before the pandemic, it was generally difficult to get people motivated and enjoy exercising. But bear in mind that being active does not automatically mean you have to run and jog every day. You can also simply take a brisk walk several times per week.

I think now is the best time to emphasize this point as people are significantly more health-conscious since the outbreak of COVID-19. We should take advantage of this opportunity and educate the public on the health benefits of regular physical activity as a preventive measure that may ward off disease and helps you enjoy everyday life without ailments. If we manage to do that, we will have taken a big step towards success.