The current corona pandemic has drastic effects on the German economy (Federal Statistical Office, 2021). Almost all industries are affected by policy measures in some way. The fitness and health business sector have been particularly hard hit. While this industry was booming in the time before Corona and especially the fitness studios showed membership numbers at a record level, there was a trend reversal in Corona year 2020.
After the German fitness studios had 11.66 million members at the end of 2019, there were only 10.31 million members at the end of 2020. Without the discontinued memberships, the number even fell to 9.79 million members. This emerges from the critical data of the German fitness industry in 2021 (DSSV, 2021). December 31, 2020, was used as the key date for data collection.
If you talk to the owners of fitness studios, the number of resignations by members is usually between 20% and 30%, in individual cases even up to 40%. The sales development is also strongly declining due to the lack of membership fees. After record sales of 5.51 billion euros net in 2019, sales in 2020 were only 4.16 billion euros net (DSSV, 2021). A question that arises again and again with these frightening numbers,
Could the opening of the gyms accelerate the infection rate?
Chang et al. (2020) published a study in November 2020 in which the smartphone movement data of 98 million people from ten different major cities in the USA were analyzed.
The data was collected between March 1 and May 2, 2020, and included the whereabouts of the test subjects. This movement data was then compared with the number of infections and the findings about the potential routes of spread of the coronavirus. The focus was on various areas and facilities of public life such as restaurants, fitness studios, cafés and bars, hotels, religious houses, medical practices, grocery stores, various retailers, gas stations and car dealers that were identified as potential sources of infection.
Interestingly, z. B. old people’s homes, (college) schools, hospitals and workplaces (e. B. offices and factories) and local public transport are not taken into account. It was also simulated how opening up the individual areas and facilities would affect the number of infections.
In particular, the opening of restaurants, fitness studios, cafes and bars, and hotels and religious houses led to a significant increase in infection rates. However, there is no causality in this simulation and no distance rules, hygiene concepts or even authorization restrictions were taken into account.
Cafés and bars and hotels, and religious houses are a significant increase in the number of infections. However, there is no causality in this simulation and no distance rules, hygiene concepts or even authorization restrictions were taken into account.
Cafés and bars and hotels, and religious houses are a significant increase in the number of infections. However, there is no causality in this simulation and no distance rules, hygiene concepts, or even authorization restrictions have been taken into account.
Is there a high risk of infection in fitness courses without protective measures?
The study by Jang, Han and Rhee (2020), published in August 2020, already came to comparable results. A very high risk of infection was found among the participants in fitness courses. Within 24 days, 112 athletes from 12 sports facilities had an infection. In this setting from South Korea, however, no protective measures were taken either. Instead, there were relevant risk factors such as colossal group size, tiny rooms, moist and warm air and inadequate ventilation.
Can hygiene and distance rules minimize the incidence of infection?
A study from Norway, carried out by Helsingen et al. (2020), was carried out. 3,764 subjects aged between 18 and 64 took part in this study. At random, 1,896 subjects were granted access to five fitness studios in Oslo, while the control group of 1,868 subjects was not given any training opportunity.
The training group had to adhere to special hygiene rules and rules on minimum distance. The changing rooms were open, showers and saunas were closed. There was no mask requirement. During the intervention period of 14 days, 81.8% of the subjects exercised at least once, 38.5% at least six times in one of the five fitness studios. Only one subject in the training group ultimately had a positive corona test.
However, the tracing showed that it was proven to have been infected in the workplace. The bottom line was that there was no increased risk of infection with a corona in the gym. As a result, comprehensive hygiene and distance rules minimize the risk of corona infection in the gym.
However, the capacity utilization of the five fitness studios by no means corresponded to a real scenario. Not even 2,000 test persons were distributed across five fitness studios, and of these test persons, only just over a third had a training frequency of more than six times within 14 days.
Accordingly, the low utilization was probably responsible for the practically non-existent infections. The bottom line was that there was no increased risk of infection with a corona in the gym. As a result, comprehensive hygiene and distance rules minimize the risk of corona infection in the gym—however, the capacity utilization of the five fitness studios by no means corresponded to a real scenario.
Not even 2,000 test persons were distributed across five fitness studios, and of these test persons, only just over a third had a training frequency of more than six times within 14 days. Accordingly, the low utilization was probably responsible for the practically non-existent infections.
The bottom line was that there was no increased risk of infection with a corona in the gym. As a result, comprehensive hygiene and distance rules minimize the risk of corona infection in the gym—however, the capacity utilization of the five fitness studios by no means corresponded to a real scenario.
Not even 2,000 test persons were distributed across five fitness studios, and of these test persons, only just over a third had a training frequency of more than six times within 14 days.
Accordingly, the low utilization was probably responsible for the practically non-existent infections. As a result, comprehensive hygiene and distance rules minimize the risk of corona infection in the gym. However, the capacity utilization of the five fitness studios by no means corresponded to a real scenario.
Not even 2,000 test persons were distributed across five fitness studios, and of these test persons, only just over a third had a training frequency of more than six times within 14 days. Accordingly, the low utilization was probably responsible for the practically non-existent infections. As a result, comprehensive hygiene and distance rules minimize the risk of corona infection in the gym. However, the capacity utilization of the five fitness studios by no means corresponded to a real scenario. Not even 2,000 test persons were distributed across five fitness studios, and of these test persons, only just over a third had a training frequency of more than six times within 14 days.
Accordingly, the low utilization was probably responsible for the practically non-existent infections. 000 test persons were distributed over five fitness studios, and of these test persons, only over a third had a training frequency of more than six times within 14 days. Accordingly, the low utilization was probably responsible for the practically non-existent infections.
000 test persons were distributed over five fitness studios, and of these test persons, only over a third had a training frequency of more than six times within 14 days. Accordingly, the low utilization was probably responsible for the practically non-existent infections.
Does fitness training strengthen the immune system in the fight against corona?
The many positive effects of typical fitness training on physical and mental health and well-being are well known (Bouaziz et al., 2016; Norris, Carroll & Cochrane, 1992; Sygusch, Wagner, Janke & Brehm, 2005; Wicker, Coates & Breuer , 2015).
At least some of the potential risk factors for a severe course of the corona disease can be positively influenced by health or fitness-oriented sports training (Braith & Stewart, 2006; Fleck et al., 2011; Kelley & Kelley, 2000; Strasser & Schobersberger, 2011).
For example, the Robert Koch Institute cites obesity and diabetes and high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases as risk factors for a severe corona disease course (Robert Koch Institute, 2020). This illustrates the high relevance of sporting activity such as B. Fitness training for the population’s health.
Lockdown measures such as closing the gym should therefore be well thought out. Lippi, Henry, Bovo and Sanchis-Gomar (2020) warned early in the spring of 2020 of the consequences of a lockdown and named as potential consequences, among other things, reduced physical activity, deteriorated body composition and increasing social isolation.
Meanwhile, the first international studies confirm the predicted reduced physical activity due to the corona measures, as a result of which there is an increased health risk (Dunton, Do & Wang, 2020; Moore et al., 2020; Stavridou et al., 2021). Fitness training for the health of the population. Lockdown measures such as closing the gym should therefore be well thought out.
Lippi, Henry, Bovo and Sanchis-Gomar (2020) warned early in the spring of 2020 of the consequences of a lockdown and named as potential consequences, among other things, reduced physical activity, deteriorated body composition and increasing social isolation. Meanwhile, the first international studies confirm the predicted reduced physical activity due to the corona measures, as a result of which there is an increased health risk (Dunton, Do & Wang, 2020; Moore et al., 2020; Stavridou et al., 2021).
Fitness training for the health of the population. Lockdown measures such as closing the gym should therefore be well thought out. Lippi, Henry, Bovo and Sanchis-Gomar (2020) warned early in the spring of 2020 of the consequences of a lockdown and named as potential consequences, among other things, decreased physical activity, deteriorated body composition and increasing social isolation.
Meanwhile, the first international studies confirm the predicted reduced physical activity due to the corona measures, as a result of which there is an increased health risk (Dunton, Do & Wang, 2020; Moore et al., 2020; Stavridou et al., 2021).
As early as spring 2020, Bovo and Sanchis-Gomar (2020) warned of the consequences of a lockdown at an early stage and named potential consequences, including reduced physical activity, deteriorated body composition and increasing social isolation. Meanwhile, the first international studies confirm the predicted reduced physical activity due to the corona measures, as a result of which there is an increased health risk (Dunton, Do & Wang, 2020; Moore et al., 2020; Stavridou et al., 2021).
As early as spring 2020, Bovo and Sanchis-Gomar (2020) warned of the consequences of a lockdown at an early stage and named potential consequences, including reduced physical activity, deteriorated body composition and increasing social isolation. Meanwhile, the first international studies confirm the predicted reduced physical activity due to the corona measures, as a result of which there is an increased health risk (Dunton, Do & Wang, 2020; Moore et al., 2020; Stavridou et al., 2021).
A study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine examined how physical inactivity affects the hospitalization rate and mortality associated with Covid-19. A total of over 48,000 Covid patients were included in the study.
The result was that the inactive patients had a higher risk of hospitalization, ICU admission, and higher mortality from Covid-19. A lack of exercise poses a significantly higher risk for the disease than other risk factors such as smoking, obesity or high blood pressure. In conclusion, the authors expressly point out the importance of physical activity about resistance to drastic Covid-19 consequences.