A 'health message' on sustainable physical and mental health for the prolonged COVID-19 and other pandemics.

Abstract

The world has been living with another pandemic physical inactivity (PI) and sedentary behavior (SB) and of other nature for years. As social measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have been strengthened, the physical activity (PA) barrier has been hit and the PI/SB pandemic has been exacerbated, and in the current situation, triggered by its prolonged period, it is emerging as a problem to be considered in order to combat the PI/SB pandemic through PA and to maintain continuous physical and mental health. This review aims to summarize existing and recent studies on the effects of PA/SB on physical and mental health in preparation for the context of prolonged COVID-19 and provides an easy and fun way to motivate, access PA, and PA recommendations for maintaining physical and mental health. We performed search strategies on PubMed, Medline, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases, and used a literature review of the current available literature on the COVID-19 and the effects of PI, SB, and PA on physical and mental health. The clinical relevance of this review shows that integrating PA into daily life and reducing prolonged sitting time is an important strategy for continuing a healthy life physically and mentally. As a result, for those who have not yet incorporated exercise as part of their daily routine, fun and easy access to PA suggests that in the long run, may be an opportunity to implement newer habits. In addition, in an emergency such as the COVID-19 quarantine period or other pandemics, it is essential for one to maintain health through PA at home, and underscore the 'health message' of the current review that reducing SB, progressively increasing PA, and doing more PA regularly in the current context prolonged COVID-19 can bring significant benefits to long-term habits and physical and mental health.