Strategies for Enhancing Elite Athletes’ Resilience Against Upper Respiratory Infections During the Covid-19: An Explication of Exercise Intensity and Vaccination
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52633/ssper.v3i1.30Keywords:
Elite Athletes, Immune System, High-Intensity Training, COVID-19, Exercise ImmunologyAbstract
Competitive players require regular training schedules that keep them in optimum health, but the tough, rigorous training weakens their immune systems and exposes them to COVID-19 which may limit their performance. There is another important issue that professional athletes raise about vaccination – namely, how it will be related to the training process. In this study, our purpose is to investigate the effects of various levels of training intensity and vaccination on the immunological system of elite athletes. To explore this, the authors conducted a systematic literature review from 1988 to 2022 through various databases like Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Sci, ISC, and PubMed by using specific keywords. The results derived from this review imply that for high-intensity exercise, the immune system may be compromised, but it is suggested that elite athletes should not block exercising even when infected. They should instead avoid high-intensity training and focus more on low to moderate-intensity training as this has been proven to boost the immune system and maintain the body’s endurance levels. Moreover, it is recommended that athletes avoid high-intensity training before and after vaccination and instead, they should practice moderate or low-intensity exercises. This approach seeks to achieve an optimum in fitness and upkeep of immune strength.
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