The effect of aerobic exercise and strength training on physical activity level, quality of life and anxiety-stress disorder in young adults with and without COVİD-19

Aim: The aim of this study is to compare the effects of aerobic and resistance training on physical activity levels, quality of life, and anxiety-stress disorders in young adults who have had COVID-19 and those who have not. Materials and Methods The study included 15 young adults (group I) aged 18–25 years who had previously contracted COVID-19 and 15 young adults (group II) who had not, all of whom were students at Istanbul Aydın University. Participants underwent a 12-week exercise program consisting of 40-minute aerobic exercises (walking) five days a week at 70% of age-adjusted maximum heart rate, and resistance training using therabands. Post-program assessments were conducted to compare both groups. Evaluations were carried out using a personal data form, manual muscle strength test, Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS), IPAQ, SF-36 Quality of Life Questionnaire, pulmonary function tests, and a 6-minute walk test. Results: There was no significant difference between the treatment and control groups after the No significant difference was observed between groups I and II in any parameter except Forced Vital Capacity in liters (FVCLT) post-exercise training (p < 0.05). When intra-group comparisons were made, significant improvements were observed in group I for IPAQ, FVCLT, the physical functioning domain of SF-36, and walking parameters. In group II, significant differences were noted in coronavirus-related anxiety, the pain domain of SF-36, IPAQ, walking parameters, Borg scale scores, and FVCLT (p < 0.05). Conclusion: When young adults who had contracted COVID-19 were compared with the healthy group, no statistically significant differences were found in muscle strength, physical activity, pulmonary function parameters, quality of life, or anxiety-stress levels. However, the numerical values in the COVID-19 group were lower than those in the healthy group. The 12-week aerobic and resistance exercise program improved pulmonary functions, functional capacity, and quality of life in both groups, while also reducing anxiety-stress levels and fatigue problems.