COVID-19, or to be more scientifically accurate SARS COV 2 is the number one thought on the minds of most today. Whether that be a fear of contracting the virus itself or the impacts the virus is having on business or other aspects of life. This virus is just taking a toll. In particular, there was a complete shutdown of activities that required larger groups of people to come together such as sporting events that have changed social dynamics.
While this applied to mainstream sporting events (i.e. the big leagues) and the Olympics, this also applied itself to playing sports in much smaller capacities. The Coronavirus mandated the shutdown of fields, pools, gyms, and much more leaving athletes, no matter their level, high and dry. I personally come from a space where sports are a huge part of my life. Playing one sport or another each week is what helps me feel like my week is complete. Moreover, going to the gym had become a large part of my routine and unfortunately, there is no one to one substitute that I can bring home for my weight lifting setup.
My itch to want to go out and play left me with a few questions. One, if I was struggling so much was other people feeling the same way? I know I have wholeheartedly embraced the online workout lifestyle, but have others gone off in the opposite direction? Also, how do the professionals feel about this? How much is their conditioning affected without access to the state of the art facilities that are required for them to stay in shape? Obviously, the home gym LeBron James has is an anomaly in this situation. Lastly, but most importantly, when we all go back to playing sports will we all suck?
So I did some research and up came some hard facts. The first was with respect to the impact of COVID-19 on anybody. This virus, while is known for severe short-term effects it can show, has been learned to lead to long term implications. Having a low oxygen supply for an extended period of time causes organ damage and opens doors to more potential ailments. Thus, while pro-athletes have contracted the virus alongside the rest of the world, only time will tell how this may or may not change their career trajectory. Now whether or not an athlete had gotten the coronavirus, there are clear indications that as sporting leagues are reopening there is a steeply increased risk of muscle tears and other injuries. Pro athletes never spend more than 2-3 weeks away from their trainers a year and have never seen a period without access to rehab for their injuries. Studies predict that going back injuries will spike due to the lack of conditioning.
While this is obviously bad, where does that leave the rest of us? First of all, sporting activities are a huge part of social development, especially in younger children. It teaches cooperation, team spirit, competition, and much more. These children, who are not even able to interact with other children their age, will have a harder time applying these skills in a post COVID world. For the rest of us, however, the UN suggests we keep doing physical activity at home. Join an online class, get a family member to work out with you, and stay active the best we can. It is a proven fact that exercise will make you happier due to the release of endorphins it creates, and if nothing else the world can do with happier people.
Right now, athletes all over the world are risking their lungs by putting themselves out there in this pandemic struck world, but just as you need to get back to your job to make money, this is theirs.
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