TY - JOUR
T1 - Impact of sedentarism due to the COVID-19 home confinement on neuromuscular, cardiovascular and metabolic health
T2 - Physiological and pathophysiological implications and recommendations for physical and nutritional countermeasures
AU - Narici, Marco
AU - Vito, Giuseppe De
AU - Franchi, Martino
AU - Paoli, Antonio
AU - Moro, Tatiana
AU - Marcolin, Giuseppe
AU - Grassi, Bruno
AU - Baldassarre, Giovanni
AU - Zuccarelli, Lucrezia
AU - Biolo, Gianni
AU - di Girolamo, Filippo Giorgio
AU - Fiotti, Nicola
AU - Dela, Flemming
AU - Greenhaff, Paul
AU - Maganaris, Constantinos
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 European College of Sport Science.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented health crisis as entire populations have been asked to self-isolate and live in home-confinement for several weeks to months, which in itself represents a physiological challenge with significant health risks. This paper describes the impact of sedentarism on the human body at the level of the muscular, cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine and nervous systems and is based on evidence from several models of inactivity, including bed rest, unilateral limb suspension, and step-reduction. Data form these studies show that muscle wasting occurs rapidly, being detectable within two days of inactivity. This loss of muscle mass is associated with fibre denervation, neuromuscular junction damage and upregulation of protein breakdown, but is mostly explained by the suppression of muscle protein synthesis. Inactivity also affects glucose homeostasis as just few days of step reduction or bed rest, reduce insulin sensitivity, principally in muscle. Additionally, aerobic capacity is impaired at all levels of the O2 cascade, from the cardiovascular system, including peripheral circulation, to skeletal muscle oxidative function. Positive energy balance during physical inactivity is associated with fat deposition, associated with systemic inflammation and activation of antioxidant defences, exacerbating muscle loss. Importantly, these deleterious effects of inactivity can be diminished by routine exercise practice, but the exercise dose–response relationship is currently unknown. Nevertheless, low to medium-intensity high volume resistive exercise, easily implementable in home-settings, will have positive effects, particularly if combined with a 15–25% reduction in daily energy intake. This combined regimen seems ideal for preserving neuromuscular, metabolic and cardiovascular health.
AB - The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented health crisis as entire populations have been asked to self-isolate and live in home-confinement for several weeks to months, which in itself represents a physiological challenge with significant health risks. This paper describes the impact of sedentarism on the human body at the level of the muscular, cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine and nervous systems and is based on evidence from several models of inactivity, including bed rest, unilateral limb suspension, and step-reduction. Data form these studies show that muscle wasting occurs rapidly, being detectable within two days of inactivity. This loss of muscle mass is associated with fibre denervation, neuromuscular junction damage and upregulation of protein breakdown, but is mostly explained by the suppression of muscle protein synthesis. Inactivity also affects glucose homeostasis as just few days of step reduction or bed rest, reduce insulin sensitivity, principally in muscle. Additionally, aerobic capacity is impaired at all levels of the O2 cascade, from the cardiovascular system, including peripheral circulation, to skeletal muscle oxidative function. Positive energy balance during physical inactivity is associated with fat deposition, associated with systemic inflammation and activation of antioxidant defences, exacerbating muscle loss. Importantly, these deleterious effects of inactivity can be diminished by routine exercise practice, but the exercise dose–response relationship is currently unknown. Nevertheless, low to medium-intensity high volume resistive exercise, easily implementable in home-settings, will have positive effects, particularly if combined with a 15–25% reduction in daily energy intake. This combined regimen seems ideal for preserving neuromuscular, metabolic and cardiovascular health.
KW - body composition
KW - cardiovascular system
KW - COVID-19
KW - exercise
KW - glucose homeostasis
KW - neuromuscular system
KW - nutrition
KW - sedentarism
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85084844873&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/17461391.2020.1761076
DO - 10.1080/17461391.2020.1761076
M3 - Article
C2 - 32394816
AN - SCOPUS:85084844873
SN - 1746-1391
VL - 21
SP - 614
EP - 635
JO - European Journal of Sport Science
JF - European Journal of Sport Science
IS - 4
ER -