Can remotely supervised exercise positively affect self-reported depressive symptoms and physical activity levels during social distancing?

Acácio Moreira-Neto; Bruce Martins; Angelo Miliatto; Mariana Penteado Nucci; Carla Silva-Batista

doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2021.113969

Can remotely supervised exercise positively affect self-reported depressive symptoms and physical activity levels during social distancing?

Psychiatry Res. 2021 Jul:301:113969. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.113969. Epub 2021 Apr 25.

Authors

Acácio Moreira-Neto¹, Bruce Martins², Angelo Miliatto¹, Mariana Penteado Nucci¹, Carla Silva-Batista³

Affiliations

¹ Neuroimagem Funcional - Laboratory of Medical Investigations on Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Exercise Neuroscience Research Group, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
² Neuroimagem Funcional - Laboratory of Medical Investigations on Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Center of Mathematics, Computation and Cognition, Federal University of ABC, São Bernardo, Brazil.
³ Neuroimagem Funcional - Laboratory of Medical Investigations on Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Exercise Neuroscience Research Group, University of São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: csilvabatista@usp.br.

PMID: 33975172
DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.113969

Abstract

The main objective of this cross-sectional study was to compare the self-reported depressive symptoms and physical activity (PA) levels among participants who performed self- nonexercising (NE), guided exercise (SGE), remotely supervised exercise (RSE), and face-to-face supervised exercise (FFE) during social distancing. Three hundred and forty-four individuals (≥18 years and 67% women) answered a self-reported online survey that included questions related to the physical exercise practice (e.g., supervised and remote) during social distancing and questions about perceptions of depressive symptoms (Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale-Self Rated [MADRS-S] scores) and metabolic equivalent task minutes per week (METs min•wk^-1) of moderate- and vigorous-intensity PA, and total PA scores (International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form) before and during social distancing. The RSE group (n=45) showed higher METs of vigorous-intensity PA than the SGE (n=146) and NE (n=109) groups. The RSE and FFE (n=44) groups showed higher METs of the total PA scores than the SGE and NE groups. The NE group showed higher MADRS-S scores than the other groups. Lower MADRS-S scores depend on the exercise practice and higher METs of vigorous-intensity PA depend on the supervised exercise practice. Thus, telehealth interventions can be implemented during the pandemic to enhance vigorous PA.

Keywords: COVID-19; Home-based exercise; Inactivity; Mental health; Physical exercise; Supervision; Telerehabilitation.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
COVID-19 / epidemiology
COVID-19 / psychology*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Depression / diagnosis*
Depression / psychology
Exercise*
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Pandemics
Physical Distancing*
Sedentary Behavior
Self Report
Surveys and Questionnaires
Telerehabilitation*