All You Need to Know About Working Out During COVID-19

By now we’re all aware of the important measures we must take to protect ourselves from the coronavirus: Maintain social distancing, wash your hands frequently, stay home when possible, and if you do need to go out, don’t forget your mask. Along with these best practices, researchers are recommending physical exercise as another way to keep yourself healthy and safe from COVID-19. As previous studies have shown, there are several positive effects that exercise has on the immune system. It’s no wonder that it’s now being considered a key factor in keeping healthy during the pandemic. Read more below to see how working out during COVID-19 can keep you safe and healthy. 

Exercise and Your Immune System 

Exercise has pretty obvious effects on your external body, but it also provides positive results to internal bodily functions, including your immune system. In a study performed by the Shanghai University of Sport, evidence was found that regular physical activity helps improve your immune system’s ability to regulate itself. This greatly delays the onset of age-related issues varying from increased risk of infection and metabolic health problems. Along with this, research suggests that acute to moderate exercise enhances immunosurveillance and lowers inflammation, resulting in a stronger immune system. 

How Exercise Helps Fight Off Infection

Moderate-intensity exercise also helps your body fight infections such as the flu and upper respiratory tract infections. When you work out, your body produces an antioxidant called extracellular superoxide dismutase (EcSOD), which is responsible for keeping harmful free radicals from damaging the lungs. This antioxidant-protein helps protect against acute lung diseases and reduces the severity of other respiratory infections such as ARDS. 

This evidence shows that working out during COVID-19 could be a key way to staying healthy or at least reduce the extremity of potential infections.     

Enhancing Respiratory Function

Researchers have also discovered that exercising properly can strengthen the respiratory system – more specifically, the lungs. Your diaphragm, which is made of muscles, allows you to inhale and exhale air. Exercising these muscles will make them stronger, ultimately improving your breathing cycle. And as stated above, exercise helps the respiratory system function more effectively, even during illness. By strengthening your respiratory muscles, your risk of illness is considerably reduced and your ability to recover is enhanced.

Sweating Out Toxins  

Many people have relied on sweat lodges to clear out toxins that may be circulating through their system. When the body sweats, it releases toxic material such as heavy metals and even BPA, which can cause negative effects on your health. Exercise also helps the lungs discard toxins that can cause an onset of disease. Because sweat lodges pose a major risk of spreading bacteria, this is an ineffective way to help your body rid itself of harmful toxins. However, exercise releases toxins just as a sweat lodge would, but exercising makes it easier to follow social distancing protocols.   

Other benefits of working out during COVID-19 include:

• Improves sleep
• Enhances mood
• Reduces anxiety/depression

Exercise Safely at Reno Health Clubs

The great thing about exercise is you can do it from almost anywhere, including your home. However, working out in a gym with equipment, weights, mats, and more is the preferred method of exercise. Fortunately, our Reno fitness center has reopened with firm guidelines and protocols designed to keep guests safe during their workout. Take a look below at our COVID-19 announcement. If you’re looking to meet your body goals, then try a free gym trial!

Get a Free Reno Gym Trial

COVID-19 RENO GYM MASK REQUIREMENT UPDATE

PER THE GOVERNOR’S RECENT MANDATE, EVERYONE IS REQUIRED TO WEAR A MASK WHILE ENTERING/EXITING THE FACILITY. IF YOU ARE NOT WORKING OUT, YOU MUST BE IN A MASK, IF YOU ARE NOT, YOU WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE. HOWEVER, DUE TO RISKS RELATED TO RESPIRATORY HEALTH, WEARING A MASK DURING YOUR WORKOUT IS NOT REQUIRED – YOU MAY DO SO AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION, BUT YOUR MASK MUST BE ACCESSIBLE WITH YOU AT ALL TIMES.

THANK YOU!