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How to stay physically active during COVID-19

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About Dr. Rebecca Battista

Dr. Rebecca A. “Becki” Battista is a professor in Appalachian State University’s exercise science program who specializes in promoting physical activity opportunities for children and youth.

She serves as director of Appalachian’s Office of Student Research and is also an Exercise is Medicine Ambassador.

Contact: battistara@appstate.edu

By Dr. Rebecca Battista
Department of Health and Exercise Science, Appalachian State University
Posted March 18, 2020 at 5:13 p.m.

BOONE, N.C. — Staying physically active is an important component to being healthy. While following CDC recommendations to prevent transmission of the COVID-19 virus, there are still options available to be active.

Being active has many physical and mental health benefits. You can be active if you are not sick or show signs or symptoms of COVID-19, which include cough, fever and/or shortness of breath.

Outdoor things you can do to stay active

Not only does being active have health-related benefits, just being outside can improve mood. Here are suggested activities:

  • Go for a walk in your neighborhood or on a greenway, but avoid any crowded areas or spaces.
  • Hike a local trail.
  • Go out for a bike ride.
  • Play active games with your family.
  • Start to work on your spring garden and other yard maintenance.

Researchers in Appalachian State University’s HOPE Lab partnered with Park Rx America to develop a database of parks and recreational areas within Watauga and surrounding counties. Search this site for some great places to be active.

Using the site, you can find a park with amenities that suit your interest and preferred location, as well as access a PDF containing the park's general information, amenities and available trails.

While national, state and local parks are working to ensure the safety of its visitors, trails and restrooms remain open at this time. Check the park website for any updates regarding its status.

Shutterstock/Max A Million Graphics image

Indoor things you can do to stay active

Here are some suggestions for how to stay active — even when you must stay inside:

  • Dance to your favorite song.
  • Check out some exercise videos. There are some great videos online that can guide you through a group fitness exercise such as yoga.
  • Dust off any home exercise equipment and use it.
  • Find ways to do some simple muscle strengthening activities like pushups, squats or lunges.
  • Use your technology, including smartphones and/or fitness trackers, to track your daily steps. Set goals for each day. Use the step counts as little challenges, among either friends or family members.
  • Break up long periods of being sedentary by moving 10–15 minutes each hour, even if it is just a walk around the house, up and down the stairs, or to the end of the driveway.

The physical activity guidelines for Americans recommend being active for 150–300 minutes (2 1/2–5 hours) per week. Total minutes can be broken into smaller chunks — five, 10 or 15 minutes at a time. For other resources regarding staying active during this time, see the American College of Sports Medicine’s Staying Physically Active During the COVID-19 Pandemic webpage.

What do you think?

Share your feedback on this story.

View larger image
About Dr. Rebecca Battista

Dr. Rebecca A. “Becki” Battista is a professor in Appalachian State University’s exercise science program who specializes in promoting physical activity opportunities for children and youth.

She serves as director of Appalachian’s Office of Student Research and is also an Exercise is Medicine Ambassador.

Contact: battistara@appstate.edu

A dose of exercise: App State’s HOPE Lab partners with Park Rx to develop outdoor recreation database
A dose of exercise: App State’s HOPE Lab partners with Park Rx to develop outdoor recreation database
June 4, 2019

Appalachian’s HOPE Lab provides resources for local physicians to prescribe a dose of exercise.

Read the story
Staying Physically Active During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Staying Physically Active During the COVID-19 Pandemic
American College of Sports Medicine
March 16, 2020

Amid concerns around the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, individuals in communities across the country and around the world are being encouraged to stay home. Below you will find many resources to help you continue to stay physically active while at home.

Learn more
Peterson’s recognizes App State as top-20 school for outdoor enthusiasts
Peterson’s recognizes App State as top-20 school for outdoor enthusiasts
June 18, 2019

Peterson’s — the world’s leading educational services company — recently named Appalachian in its “The 20 Best Colleges for Outdoor Enthusiasts” list, highlighting the university’s Outdoor Programs and academic programs that may lead to outdoor careers.

Read the story
Appalachian joins national Exercise is Medicine On Campus (EIM-OC) program
Appalachian joins national Exercise is Medicine On Campus (EIM-OC) program
Oct. 30, 2018

Throughout October, students, faculty and staff at Appalachian are taking their medicine one push-up, one dead lift and one hike at a time by participating in the Exercise Is Medicine On Campus (EIM-OC) program.

Read the story

About the Beaver College of Health Sciences

Appalachian State University’s Beaver College of Health Sciences (BCHS), opened in 2010, is transforming the health and quality of life for the communities it serves through interprofessional collaboration and innovation in teaching, scholarship, service and clinical outreach. BCHS offers nine undergraduate degree programs and seven graduate degree programs, which are organized into six departments: Nursing, Nutrition and Health Care Management, Public Health and Exercise Science, Recreation Management and Physical Education, Rehabilitation Sciences, and Social Work. The college’s academic programs are located in the Holmes Convocation Center on App State’s main campus and the Leon Levine Hall of Health Sciences, a state-of-the-art, 203,000-square-foot facility that is the cornerstone of the Wellness District. In addition, the college supports the Blue Cross NC Institute for Health and Human Services and has collaborative partnerships with the Wake Forest School of Medicine’s Physician Assistant Program, the Appalachian Regional Health System and numerous other health agencies. Learn more at https://healthsciences.appstate.edu.

About student research at Appalachian

Appalachian State University encourages faculty-mentored student research, which provides students with the opportunity to work side by side with faculty on meaningful research or creative endeavors. These projects often result in presentations, performances or exhibitions at regional, national and international conferences and events. Students who engage in research are able to apply knowledge from the classroom into real-world experiences and learn how to problem-solve, effectively communicate and analyze complex issues. Appalachian’s Office of Student Research (OSR) was established in 2005 to expand the opportunities necessary for undergraduate and graduate students to engage in research and creative activities at Appalachian. Learn more at https://osr.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls nearly 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.

View larger image
About Dr. Rebecca Battista

Dr. Rebecca A. “Becki” Battista is a professor in Appalachian State University’s exercise science program who specializes in promoting physical activity opportunities for children and youth.

She serves as director of Appalachian’s Office of Student Research and is also an Exercise is Medicine Ambassador.

Contact: battistara@appstate.edu

A dose of exercise: App State’s HOPE Lab partners with Park Rx to develop outdoor recreation database
A dose of exercise: App State’s HOPE Lab partners with Park Rx to develop outdoor recreation database
June 4, 2019

Appalachian’s HOPE Lab provides resources for local physicians to prescribe a dose of exercise.

Read the story
Staying Physically Active During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Staying Physically Active During the COVID-19 Pandemic
American College of Sports Medicine
March 16, 2020

Amid concerns around the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, individuals in communities across the country and around the world are being encouraged to stay home. Below you will find many resources to help you continue to stay physically active while at home.

Learn more
Peterson’s recognizes App State as top-20 school for outdoor enthusiasts
Peterson’s recognizes App State as top-20 school for outdoor enthusiasts
June 18, 2019

Peterson’s — the world’s leading educational services company — recently named Appalachian in its “The 20 Best Colleges for Outdoor Enthusiasts” list, highlighting the university’s Outdoor Programs and academic programs that may lead to outdoor careers.

Read the story
Appalachian joins national Exercise is Medicine On Campus (EIM-OC) program
Appalachian joins national Exercise is Medicine On Campus (EIM-OC) program
Oct. 30, 2018

Throughout October, students, faculty and staff at Appalachian are taking their medicine one push-up, one dead lift and one hike at a time by participating in the Exercise Is Medicine On Campus (EIM-OC) program.

Read the story

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Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

The migration of materials from other sites is still incomplete, so if you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Additional feature stories may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Photo galleries and videos published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian

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Archives

Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

The migration of materials from other sites is still incomplete, so if you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Additional feature stories may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Photo galleries and videos published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian
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