Effects of a remote intervention of physical activity on cardiovascular risk and physical fitness

Abstract

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, projects that guide physical activity to population had to adapt their actions to the remote format. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a remote physical activity intervention on the cardiovascular risk and physical fitness in participants of these projects. Thereby, 29 participants of the Exercise and Heart Project (66±5 years) were instructed to perform 2 walking sessions, 1 aerobic exercise video class and 2 strength video classes per week with each activity lasting 30 min and performed at moderate intensity. At baseline and after 8 weeks, markers of cardiovascular risk and physical fitness were measured and compared by paired t-tests or Wilcoxon tests, considering p≤0.05. Comparing pre- and post-intervention evaluations, there was a significant reduction in waist circumference (95.9±11.3 vs. 94.7±11.3 cm, p=0.013) and an increase in cardiorespiratory capacity (117±21 vs. 123±23 steps, p=0.019), upper limb strength (23±6 vs. 25±6 repetitions, p=0.003), abdominal resistance (20±9 vs. 22±10 repetitions, p= 0.002) and overall physical fitness (-0.04±3.55 vs. 1.30±4.10, p=0.000). In conclusion, the proposed remote intervention improved the participant’s physical fitness, increasing cardiorespiratory capacity, muscle strength and resistance, in addition to reducing central obesity.