Daily Life Patterns, Psychophysical Conditions, and Immunity of Adolescents in the COVID-19 Era: A Mixed Research with Qualitative Interviews by a Quasi-Experimental Retrospective Study

Background: This study investigated the daily lifestyle changes, prevalence of psychological depression, physical health status, and immunity of adolescents in Korea resulting from increased isolation and social restriction due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: All subjects included 17-year-old male adolescents. A total of 117 subjects were assigned to one of four groups according to the degree of depression based on item #6 in the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) questionnaire as follows: no-depression group (NDG, n = 71;61.0%), low-depression group (LDG, n = 23;19.0%), moderate-depression group (MDG, n = 15;13.0%), and high-depression group (HDG, n = 8;7.0%). This study analyzed the data using quantitative and qualitative methods to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic affects adolescents' daily lives, psychophysiological conditions, and immune function. Results: This study found that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly affects the daily lifestyle pattern, psychophysical condition, and immunocytes of adolescents. In terms of depression, 39.0% of adolescents felt depressed, and 7% of them felt depressed almost every day. Overall, HDG considered themselves unhealthy and felt prone to immune diseases, such as colds. HDG were prone to sleep late, eat more frequently, and work out less. Regarding physical fitness factors, the cardiorespiratory endurance, strength, and power of HDG were significantly lower than those of NDG, LDG, and MDG. Moreover, HDG had the worst body composition, including the lowest muscle mass. Finally, natural killer (NK) cells and T cells were significantly different among groups, with the levels in HDG being significantly lower than those of the other three groups. Conclusions: Since the COVID-19 pandemic negatively affects the daily lives, psychophysical conditions, and immunocytes of adolescents, there is an urgent need to create and provide solutions to adolescents with depression though the number of subjects is few.

Effects of Rhythm Step Training on Physical and Cognitive Functions in Adolescents: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Rhythm step training (RST) for sensorimotor dual tasks is in the spotlight as it provides physical activity that is fun and allows participants to express various and creative movements, although it lacks a scientific evidence base. Therefore, this study was to investigate how RST affects the physical and cognitive functions of adolescents. Materials and Methods: A total of sixty-six female middle-schoolers were divided into non-exercise group (control group, CON, n = 22), step training group (STG, n = 22), and rhythm step training group (RSTG, n = 22). To verify the combined effects of music-based rhythm and exercise, the program was conducted for 45 min/session a day, three times a week for 12 weeks. Results: RST scores increased significantly in the STG and RSTG compared to the CON after 12 weeks. Specifically, the Δ% of RST scores in the RSTG (11.44%) was higher than those of STG (9.01%) and CON (3.91%). By the end of the experiment, the power (p < 0.001), agility (p < 0.001), muscle endurance (p < 0.001), dynamic or static balance (p < 0.001), and gait velocity (p < 0.001) of RSTG were significantly improved compared to the others. The Δ% of all variables in RSTG was higher than those of the CON or STG. In addition, the verbal memory (p < 0.001) and attention (p < 0.001) of cognitive function were significantly improved in RSTG. Specifically, there was more of an increase in Δ% of RSTG for verbal memory (7.52%) and attention (10.33%) than in the CON (verbal memory, 3.34%; attention, 5.83%) or STG (verbal memory, 5.85%; attention, 5.43%). Conclusions: This study confirms that RST had a positive effect on the physical and cognitive functions of female middle-schoolers. We propose that rhythmic exercise combined with music is beneficial for adolescents' physical and cognitive health.

Detraining Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Physical Fitness, Cytokines, C-Reactive Protein and Immunocytes in Men of Various Age Groups.

Background and Objectives: Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus II, levels of physical inactivity have become more severe and widespread than ever before. Physical inactivity is known to have a negative effect on the human body, but the extent to which reduced physical fitness has effected immune function before and after the current pandemic has not yet been uncovered. The aim of this study was to investigate the detraining effects of the COVID-19 confinement period on physical fitness, immunocytes, inflammatory cytokines, and proteins in various age groups. The participants of this study included sixty-four male adults who did not exercise during the pandemic, although they had exercised regularly before. Materials and Methods: Participants were classified by age group, which included the 20s group (20s'G, n = 14), 30s group (30s'G, n = 12), 40s group (40s'G, n = 12), 50s group (50s'G, n = 12), and 60s group (60s'G, n = 14). Results: Regarding body composition, muscle mass significantly decreased, whereas fat mass, fat percentage, and waist/hip ratio significantly increased in most groups. Cardiopulmonary endurance and strength significantly decreased in all groups, while muscle endurance and flexibility decreased in some groups compared to the pre-COVID-19 pandemic. This study confirmed the immunocytopenia and enhanced inflammation due to physical inactivity during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a greater detrimental decrease mainly after the age of 50. Conclusion: This study confirmed a decrease in physical fitness after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, characterized by an increase in fat mass and a decrease in muscle mass, thereby increasing cytokines and reducing immunocytes in the body. While social distancing is important during the pandemic, maintaining physical fitness should also be a top priority.

Effects of High Intensity Plank Exercise on Physical Fitness and Immunocyte Function in a Middle-Aged Man: A Case Report.

Background and Objectives: Although the plank exercise is difficult to perform for untrained people, it does not require money, special equipment, or much space. However, it is not known how plank exercises affect physical fitness and immunocyte function. This study analyzed the changes in physical fitness and immune cells of a middle-aged man after performing 4 weeks of elbow plank exercise. Materials and Methods: Elbow plank exercise was performed for approximately 20 min (resting time, around 10 min) a day, 5 days a week for 4 weeks. The intensity was checked daily with ratings of perceived exertion (RPE). When the participant reached an intensity of RPE 15, RPE 16, and RPE 17 of the RPE 20 scale, 1 min of rest was given before repeating the process. Results: Compared with the pre-values, (1) all the physical fitness factors (muscle strength, muscle endurance, flexibility, and cardiopulmonary fitness) were increased after 4 weeks; (2) body weight, skeletal muscle mass, and the basal metabolic rate were increased, whereas body fat mass and fat percentage were decreased; and (3) although the variables of complete blood count were changed positively, some were not. Specifically, CD3, CD8, and CD56 were increased, whereas CD4, CD4/CD8, and cytotoxicity were decreased. These results show that elbow plank exercise can improve all factors of physical fitness and improve some of the immunocyte functions of a middle-aged man. Conclusions: This study confirmed that, although the elbow plank exercise of vigorous intensity for 4 weeks improved physical fitness, it was not effective in improving some immunocyte functions. Therefore, the exercise intensity of plank exercises for improving immunocyte functions should be reconsidered.

Psychophysical condition of adolescents in coronavirus disease 2019.

This study investigated the prevalence of depression and levels of physical fitness in high school students during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. One hundred fifty participants were divided into four groups according to the number of days that they felt depressed due to the COVID-19 during the last 7 days: no-depression group (NDG, n=17), some-depression group (SDG, n=32), occasional-depression group (ODG, n=81), and most-depression group (MDG, n=20). Shuttle run for endurance capacity and standing long jump for muscle power were selected to estimate the states of type I and type II muscle fibers, respectively. This study found that the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale score of MDG was significantly higher than those of other three groups. In addition, ODG and MDG showed the lowest interest in their school studies compared with other groups. Endurance capacity showed a significant difference among groups, whereas muscle power showed no significant difference among groups. In conclusion, this study suggests that higher levels of depression reflect a greater lack of interest in life and academics. Furthermore, lower endurance capacity appears to be associated with more severe levels of depression. This highlights the importance of maintaining type I muscle fibers through regular aerobic exercise.