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Should I exercise during the coronavirus pandemic?

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Should I exercise during the coronavirus pandemic?

Old 03-20-20, 11:18 PM
  #1  
CycleryNorth81
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Should I exercise during the coronavirus pandemic?

https://www.yahoo.com/news/exercise-...120736486.html

Last edited by CycleryNorth81; 03-20-20 at 11:21 PM. Reason: edited link
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Old 03-21-20, 04:07 AM
  #2  
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I've been saying this for a long time now...Too much intensity done too frequently is bad for your body and can weaken your immune system and make you more susceptible to infections. There needs to be a balance in how much, how often and how hard you exercise. You can't go hard all the time, you need to have easy days and deload. There is nothing wrong with exercising and being physically active every day as long as you're not overdoing it.
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Old 03-21-20, 07:20 AM
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Originally Posted by wolfchild
I've been saying this for a long time now...Too much intensity done too frequently is bad for your body and can weaken your immune system and make you more susceptible to infections. There needs to be a balance in how much, how often and how hard you exercise. You can't go hard all the time, you need to have easy days and deload. There is nothing wrong with exercising and being physically active every day as long as you're not overdoing it.
That's been pretty mainstream for awhile now but I'd like to offer two points in mitigation:

1. The weakening of immune system applies to "extreme" endurance exercise. Ultra-marathon training. Many hours training daily at high levels of effort. The bike rides, for almost all of us here (with a couple of possible exceptions) don't rise to that level.

2. Recently it is suggested that this effect is due to the temporary suppression of the immune system directly after training, lasting for a few hours and then recovering.

That's consistent with your advice to "deload", giving the immune system more room to recover. But if the new research holds up (and it does make more sense), the issue isn't as much problem as we thought it was. Generally speaking, exercise improves our immune systems.
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Old 03-21-20, 07:52 AM
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Originally Posted by wphamilton
The bike rides, for almost all of us here (with a couple of possible exceptions) don't rise to that level.

It's not just the bike rides, it's other thigs added to the bike rides....Weight lifting, kettlebells, bike rides, strength/conditioning workouts, and working at a physical labour job for 8-9 hours per day. With the amount of physical activity that I have in my life, I need to listen to my body because it's very easy to go overboard.
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Old 03-21-20, 08:37 AM
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Any exercise is usually good exercise, obviously, don't overdo it.

If nothing else, go for a walk around the block (the yard, compound, etc.) everyday if possible.
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Old 03-21-20, 08:48 AM
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From the linked article: "Wash and disinfect equipment after use."
Probably won't be doing that with my bikes before hanging up in the corner of the garage.
Use disinfectant as appropriate.
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Old 03-21-20, 09:42 AM
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Originally Posted by wolfchild
It's not just the bike rides, it's other thigs added to the bike rides....Weight lifting, kettlebells, bike rides, strength/conditioning workouts, and working at a physical labour job for 8-9 hours per day. With the amount of physical activity that I have in my life, I need to listen to my body because it's very easy to go overboard.
Just saying, that's two different things. The amount of strenuous exercise that suppresses our immune system is on a whole different -extreme- level than the type of activity that requires recovery. In the context of "is suppressed immune system dangerous for coronavirus".
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Old 03-21-20, 10:04 AM
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Yes.
By yourself or a minimum safe distance (some say 6 feet, I think 15-20)
Use common sense.
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Old 03-21-20, 10:05 AM
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Originally Posted by JanMM
From the linked article: "Wash and disinfect equipment after use."
Probably won't be doing that with my bikes before hanging up in the corner of the garage.
Use disinfectant as appropriate.
How would you know the previous user did this?
Seems to me, if you are using a gym environment, you should do this before use.
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Old 03-21-20, 11:32 AM
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Originally Posted by bobwysiwyg
How would you know the previous user did this?
Seems to me, if you are using a gym environment, you should do this before use.
I was referring to riding my bike. I am always the previous and next user.
At our YMCA gym - temporarily closed - I always wipe down equipment after use. A few days before the closure, signs went up to clean before use, too. Which I did.
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Old 03-21-20, 03:30 PM
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Yes you can ride your bike, the virus is carried by water droplets expelled from an infected person such as in the act of coughing or sneezing, in those acts the droplets can carry to a max of 6 feet. If you are out riding your bike and you're not near people like in a tight group, your chances of catching the virus during that activity is ZERO!

So go ride and have some fun.
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Old 03-21-20, 04:11 PM
  #12  
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Originally Posted by JanMM
I was referring to riding my bike. I am always the previous and next user.
At our YMCA gym - temporarily closed - I always wipe down equipment after use. A few days before the closure, signs went up to clean before use, too. Which I did.
My apology. I was not specifically referring to your activity, but the article in general.
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Old 03-22-20, 09:43 AM
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I would agree that unless you're doing group rides it's probably fine. If you're super worried you can always close your mouth or hold your breath when you ride past people or at the very least make sure you're doing an exhale rather than an inhale when you encounter someone who does sneeze near you don't touch your face and wash your hands and your face when you get in.

Obviously though if you yourself show signs of being ill please either ride where there is no one else or don't ride as you might accidentally give the virus to someone who is susceptible.

Last edited by JayKay3000; 03-22-20 at 09:48 AM.
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Old 03-22-20, 09:50 AM
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Agree with the 15' - 20' rule as possible unless someone coughs or sneezes, then it's the 200 mile rule (JK, but still head in the opposite direction).
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Old 03-22-20, 12:03 PM
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Stress itself can weaken you immune system. April is the time of lots of final exams for college and university students. The global economy and the 24/7 workweek due to the smartphone has changed our sleep patterns.

Just continue to eat your fruits and vegetables, drink lots of fluids and get consistent deep sleep. Try not to worry about things you can't control or do anything about. If you're generally healthy, you should be fine.
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Old 03-22-20, 12:57 PM
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My answer to the OP is "yes", we should exercise. I was in the gym every few days, till they just recently shut down indefinitely, and unless I'm in the gym or out walking, I typically ride for 1.5+ hrs almost everyday that our weather will allow (this grubby weather streak the southeast has been in for months, is getting real old !)
Now I plan on riding or walking everyday till they declare martial law and force us to stay home under quarantine ! (which IMO would be another insane over-reaction....which is why I almost expect it).
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