Physical exercise and COVID-19 pandemic in PubMed: Two months of dynamics and one year of original scientific production.

Our aim was to conduct a narrative review about physical exercise and Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). A literature search was completed crossing the keywords "COVID-19" and "physical exercise", for a narrative review, and physical activity (PA), physical exercise, physical training, sport, physical fitness, for a systematic review; search strategy (Randomized Controlled Trial, in the last 1 year, English). The first search date was closed on 04/26/2020 and 06/26/2020. This strategy was chosen to assess the dynamics of scientific information production for the pandemic. In two months, an increase of 76%, from 12 (19.4%) to 50 (80.64%) COVID-19 articles (n = 62, 100%) was found. The main types of articles published were editorial articles (16.13%, n = 10 of 62 articles) and commentary (9.68%, n = 6 of 62 articles). The most frequent country of origin of the scientific production was the United States (12.90%, n = 8 of 62 articles), the United Kingdom (12.90%, n = 8 of 62 articles), and Brazil (11.29%, n = 7 of 62 articles). However, in 2020, there were only 2 relevant randomized controlled trials on the COVID-19 topic in the context of physical exercise. Scientific information production shows the concern of the PA science community to bring a solution to the increase in physical inactivity generated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings show the dynamics of scientific production on the COVID-19, in a situation so unique such as a pandemic, denotes that the practice of PA is essential to improve and/or maintain physical and mental health.

Are heart rate deflection point and peak velocity determined in the Université of Montréal Track Test valid to approximate aerobic parameters measured in the laboratory?

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare the respiratory compensation point (RCP) and maximal aerobic velocity (vVO2max) measured in the laboratory, respectively, with the heart rate deflection point (HRDP) and the peak velocity (PV) determined in the Université of Montréal Track Test (UMTT). Beside, we investigated the relationship of these parameters with endurance performance. METHODS: Eighteen long distance runners randomly performed (in different days) two incremental exercise tests (laboratory and UMTT). RCP and vVO2max were identified in a treadmill test. The HRDP was identified using the Dmax method, while the PV was identified as the velocity of the last complete stage (PVc) and the time-corrected velocity of the last incomplete stage (PVi). Endurance performance was the reported 10-km race time from the closest race to the test visits. RESULTS: RCP heart rate (176±14 bpm) was not significantly different from HRDP (173±10 bpm). The agreement was reasonable [bias: 4 bpm (95% limit of agreement: -16 to 24 bpm)]. vVO2max (18.0±2.1 km.h-1) was not significantly different from PVi (17.6±2.1 km.h-1), but was significantly higher than PVc (17.3±2.0 km.h-1). The agreement between vVO2max and PVi was acceptable [0.4 km.h-1 (-1.6 to 2.4 km.h-1)]. Endurance performance correlations (2212±277 s) with HRDP velocity (r=-0.75) and PVi (r=-0.83) tended to be lower than with RCP velocity (r=-0.91) and vVO2max (r=-0.85). CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to estimate with reasonable accuracy the vVO2max using the UMTT. However, care must be taken to use the HRDP identified through the UMTT to prescribe training intensities.