Elemental, 4/27

Quarantine fitness will change workout culture forever

By Kate Morgan

Survivalists and "preppers" consider physical fitness an important survival skill, and they're not off the mark. The quarantine fitness trend may be more than a way to pass the time - a regular exercise regimen could aid the body's natural defenses. During the Hong Kong flu outbreak in 1998, people who got at least a moderate amount of exercise had a reduced risk of death, according to a study published in the journal PLOS One. The same may ultimately prove true now, according to Tamara Hew-Butler, an associate professor of exercise and sports science at Wayne State University. In a recently published article, Hew-Butler and her co-author wrote that "limited animal and human data cautiously suggest that exercise up to three days per week, two to three months prior, better prepares the immune system to fight a viral infection." However, Hew-Butler warns, trying to get too fit too fast could potentially have negative health effects. "You still want to be judicious, because the data shows that no exercise is bad for your health, but too much exercise is even worse," she says. "You need to be conservative, especially at this time, because too much exercise taxes your immune system. Don't work out for more than 45 minutes if you aren't used to it. If you're sore, take an extra day to recover." Even the most conservative exercise regimen can have a considerable mental impact. "There's a clear chemical response in the brain. It's like free drugs," Hew-Butler explains. "It just makes you feel better mentally."

https://elemental.medium.com/quarantine-fitness-will-change-workout-culture-forever-748dbf735172