We might just be able to outrun the coronavirus. Not just outrun. Think biking, walking, walking, canoeing or just dancing your heart out.
A team of South African researchers say regular exercise helps boost the booster vaccinations protecting us against COVID-19.
The study used medical records and wearable activity tracking data to show that vaccinated people with high levels of exercise were three times less likely to be hospitalized by COVID-19 than those who are far less active.
Scientists analyzed nasal swab tests from more than 53,000 participants who didn’t exercise all that much. They then did the same with 62,000 who exercised moderately, and, lastly, with nearly 80,000 participants who were absolute gym rats.
They then coupled that analysis with compete health, vaccination and physical activity information for folks who tested negative for COVID-19.
The news was pretty good, showing a dose-dependent correlation. The more exercise, the better the boost. Compared with the unvaccinated, even couch potatoes who exercised less than an hour each week saw a 60% lower risk of hospitalization in contrast to the unvaccinated.
The risk for the most active exercisers dropped 86% — they’re sweating up a storm more than 150 minutes each week. The moderate physical activity group at 60 to 149 minutes a week saw a risk drop-off of 70%.
Exercise pays off, and not just when it comes to COVID-19. The World Health Organization notes that moderately intense exercise — 150 to 300 minutes spent engaging your muscles — helps prevent severe disease for many communicable viral infections.
So, lift yourself up. That couch can’t outrun a turtle, much less a virus capable of circling the globe.