Comparing the effect of individual and group cognitive-motor training on reconstructing subjective well-being and quality of life in older males, recovered from the COVID-19.

While the message emanating from physiological and psychological research has extolled the general advantages of exercise in physical and cognitive health, the social distancing and the impossibility of group exercises have revealed more complex conditions. Therefore, we performed an experimental study comparing the effect of individual and group cognitive-motor training on reconstructing subjective well-being (SWB) and quality of life (QOL) in older males who recovered from COVID-19. The study's design is a single-blind, randomized controlled trial (RCT). The participants, 36 older men (65-80 yrs.) recovering from COVID-19, were randomly divided into (1) Group A (cognitive-motor training, G-CMT); (2) Group B (individual cognitive-motor training, I-CMT); and (3) Group C (control). Both training interventions involved performing a training protocol (cognitive-motor training) twice a week for four weeks. The outcomes included an assessment of the SWB and QOL of participants by SWB scale and world health organization QOL scale at baseline and two weeks after interventions. Except for the effect of age and number of children variables on QOL, other demographic variables had no significant effect on the results of SWB or WHOQOL of participants (P > 0.05). The SWB results in G-CMT were better than I-CMT and control groups in emotional and social well-being domains. Also, WHOQOL test results in G-CMT were better than control groups in domains of psychological and social relationships, whereas I-CMT performed better than G-CMT and control groups in domains of cognitive well-being, physical health, and environment. The results revealed that the mean test scores of SWB and WHOQOL in G-CMT and I-CMT were better than the control group (P ≤ 0.001). The positive effects of cognitive-motor training on reconstructing SWB and QOL are associated with the synchronicity of cognitive and motor components in these exercises. We suggest that the emotional, social, and psychological benefits of cognitive-motor training override cognitive, physical, and environmental changes. The future line of the present study will include pathophysiology and further clinical aspect of recovering from COVID-19.

Effect of four-week home-based exercise program on immune response, fat and muscle mass in subjects recovered from COVID-19.

OBJECTIVES: A rehabilitation program for patients with COVID-19 may be required to improve related side effects. This study aimed to investigate the effect of a four-week home workout on body composition and serum levels of IL-6 and cortisol in men recovering from COVID-19. METHODS: The present study is quasi-experimental. To this end, 45 healthy individuals in Tehran were purposefully divided into three groups: those who recovered after COVID-19 (n=30), including two groups of exercise and non-exercise, and individuals who did not have COVID-19 (control) (15=n). The four-week training program included three days of training per week with Traband resistance stretches, weight body training, and cardio exercises. The smirnov-Kolmogorov test was employed for data normality. A one-way analysis of variance test will be used to compare both the mean of variables in groups and the mean of variables before and after the exercise, correlated t-test was employed at a significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: The results showed that serum levels of interleukin 6 and cortisol were significantly reduced in the recovered training group (p=0.001) and the non-trained recovery group (p=0.001) and a significant difference was observed between the groups (p=0.001). Furthermore, only in the recovered training group, did the fat percentage (p=0.001) and muscle mass (p=0.001) respectively decreased and increased. CONCLUSIONS: Four-week home training improves body composition by reducing body fat percentage and increasing muscle mass. In addition, lowering interleukin-6 and cortisol leads to reduced inflammation, faster recovery, and increased immunity.

Exercise modulation in inflammation and metabolic hormonal disorders of COVID-19 to decrease risk factors in coronary heart disease.

OBJECTIVES: Sedentary life style separated during COVID-19 pandemic. Patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are vulnerable with sedentary life style. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 8 weeks of combined and high intensity interval training (HIIT) on C Reactive protein, galectin-3, leptin, fibrinogen and insulin resistance index in coronary heart disease after COVID-19. METHODS: Thirty-six cardiovascular patients (55.14 ± 1.4 years, 78.6 ± 5.1 kg) were divided into three groups of combined exercise (n=13), HIIT (n=12) and control group (n=11). Combined exercise consisted of aerobic (4 weeks) and aerobic + HIIT exercise (4 weeks), three sessions per weeks. The protocol of the HIIT group included performing high intensity interval training, three sessions per weeks for 8 weeks. Blood samples were taken 24 h before the first training session and 48 h after the last training. C Reactive protein (CRP), galectin-3, leptin, fibrinogen measured with ELISA kit. RESULTS: CRP, galectin-3 and fibrinogen decreased significantly after 8 weeks of combined training and HIIT (compare to pre-test). Also, insulin resistance index after 8 weeks of combined exercise showed a significant decrease compare to pre-test (p<0.05). After 8 weeks, CRP, galectin-3 and insulin resistance significantly decreased compare to control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In the patient with CVD, combined exercise training may be more effective than HIIT in reducing metabolic and heart risk factors after an epidemic such as COVID-19. However, change of leptin need to more studies.

The effectiveness of cognitive-motor training on reconstructing cognitive health components in older male adults, recovered from the COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: The incidence of COVID-19 disease in the elderly can accelerate normal degenerative process of cognitive functions. Interactive cognitive-motor training (CMT) is an intervention that integrates cognitive and motor tasks to promote individuals' physical and psychological health. The present study aimed to examine the effect of CMT on reconstructing cognitive health components in older men, who have recently recovered from COVID-19. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study is a quasi-experimental repeated measure (without control group). Participants were 42 elderly men (65-80 years) who recovered from the COVID-19 disease that individually participated in a 4-week CMT program twice a week. The cognitive health components of the participants were assessed by the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-2) and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) at 3 stages before the beginning of the intervention (baseline assessment); 2 weeks after the intervention (short-term follow-up); and 3 months after the intervention (long-term follow-up). RESULTS: The results showed that the scores of depression, anxiety, physical symptoms, and social performance components and the overall GHQ score improved significantly in short-term follow-up (P < 0.05) and also in long-term follow-up compared to baseline assessment (P < 0.05). It was also found that attention and calculation, recall, lingual skill, and action performance components and the overall score of MMSE were also improved at three stages of assessments. Other components did not differ among stages. CONCLUSIONS: This study adds to the research on the effectiveness of using CMT for reconstructing cognitive health components in older adults, recovered from the COVID-19, and supports CMT as a viable intervention practice.

Potential role of Nigella sativa supplementation with physical activity in prophylaxis and treatment of COVID-19: a contemporary review.

The widespread prevalence and mortality of coronavirus diseases-2019 (COVID-19) lead many researchers to study the SARS-CoV-s2 infection to find a treatment for this disease. Discovering the mechanisms of action of COVID-19 and coping at the cellular level with this disease can have better effects. Including the target tissues of this disease are the lungs and the immune system. It is stated that COVID-19 easily infiltrates into alveoli through its receptors and then starts to proliferate. Subsequently, with the weakening of immune cells and increase inflammatory cytokines, it increases the rate of inflammation in the body. Strengthening the immune system and inhibiting COVID-19 receptors can play a preventive or even therapeutic role for this disease. Nigella sativa (N. sativa) is one of the herbal medicines to possess numerous pharmacological effects related to several organs of the body. Among the extraordinary properties of this plant is improving asthma and several lung diseases. The recent studies have shown that N. sativa at the cellular level can inhibit COVID-19 receptors. It was also stated that performing regular exercise training (especially moderate-intensity exercise training) can modulate the immune system and have an anti-inflammatory effect. Since the use of herbal supplements with exercise can have tremendous therapeutic effects at the cellular level, the hypothesis to use the Nigella sativa along with exercise training to prophylaxis and treatment COVID-19 will be highlighted in this paper.