ABSTRACT
Background: Mask wearing can restrict the spread of respiratory viral transmission during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Globally, governments have emphasized its use in workplaces and public areas to prevent the transmission routes of corona virus. In spite of the current awareness in the general population, the stringency of wearing the mask lies as an individual's choices. Subject and Methods. This research work discusses available studies on the types and comparison of masks in the market for use. It includes a short survey conducted with 1,173 anonymized healthy participants primarily devoid of comorbidities. The survey includes the effects of mask wearing, while outdoor with minimal activities like walking and with mild activities like jogging and stretching. Our research further discusses various health effects of wearing a mask, including cardiac output, hypoxemia, hypoxia, and dyspnoea, and how such situations that pose a threat can be consciously avoided. Results: It was found that the majority of people use cloth/fabric reusable mask. There remains scope for better-designed masks and improving health in the mass population by inculcating healthy breathing habits and other relevant exercises that can help people cope up better in this fight against the deadly virus at a larger scale. Conclusion: For most of the survey questions, there was significant correlation between gender and the related responses as there was no significantly observable difference in the nonparametric, unpaired analyses of responses. The main objective of this research work is to initiate more discussions and enhance awareness in natural ways of staying healthy during the pandemic emphasizing mask use. Further progress in this aspect remains a whole new area for future exploration.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has posed an unparalleled threat to all dimensions of human health and well-being. The Pan American Health Organization has acknowledged the crucial role of rehabilitation therapies for COVID-19 and emphasised the importance of exercise programmes for COVID-19 survivors. This scoping review outlines our strategy for systematically reviewing published and unpublished literature to investigate the volume of evidence for exercise interventions for COVID-19 survivors. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This scoping review will be conducted based on the framework developed by Arksey and O'Malley. Six databases (PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Central, ProQuest and CINAHL) will be searched in August 2022 and articles will be considered for inclusion published till July 2022. Studies will be screened by two independent reviewers at the title/abstract and full-text screening stages, as well as data extraction and critical assessment. Data will be extracted in a data extraction form and presented as figures and tables with narratives. This scoping review will give a thorough understanding of the current literature on exercise interventions for COVID-19 survivors, as well as identify knowledge gaps that will guide future research. Preliminary searches will be conducted after the publication of this scoping review protocol. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: No human or animal participants were involved in this review. Therefore, ethical committee approval is not required. Transparency will be followed at every review stage. Review findings will be disseminated through peer-review publications or through conference presentations.