NAC- Philippines appeals to reopen gyms

CEBU, Philippines — The National Athletic Committee (NAC)-Philippines has appealed to Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to allow the reopening of fitness gyms.

 NAC-Philippines coordinator Dennis Delgado said that regular fitness activity helps boost the immune system to fight infection. The group assured the governor that NAC-Philippines will be adopting strong measures in terms of hygiene and sanitation to its clients, gym instructors, and in the gym maintenance itself.

Gym owners have also agreed to reduce the number of users depending on the size of the fitness facility to maintain social distancing as well as put a limit to the gym's use.

"Regular exercise is very important in boosting the immune system to combat any forms of viruses," said Delgado.

Delgado also expressed dismay that salons, barber shops, and spa are said to be allowed already during the GCQ when they have close body contact with the costumers.

"Kung September pa mu-abli tanang gyms diri sa Cebu, bankrupt. Just imagine, unsaon namo ug bayad sa rent kung walay income," Delgado lamented.

Earlier, Cebu-based doctor for sports medicine Dr.Rhoel Dejano also expressed concern over the physical fitness of athletes.

“Gyms, fitness centers, public places and the stay at home orders are reducing people’s opportunity to exercise," said Dejano.

 Studies have shown that engaging in physical activity have good effects in all of the systems of the body. It has also been shown that exercise is both preventive and therapeutic in a lot of cancers.

Dejano said balanced exercise regimen is important to maintain the athletes' health.

Trainings, according to Dr.Dejano, should be prescribed and monitored by trained professionals especially during this time because certain forms of exercise can be detrimental to athletes’ well-being and can even make them prone to respiratory infections like COVID 19.

Studies have also shown that being sedentary and engaging in high-intensity exercises suppresses immunity to viral respiratory infections while moderate-intensity exercises have been shown to boost immunity.

"It is safe to exercise during the coronavirus outbreak. One should not limit the multitude of health benefits that exercise provides us on a daily basis just because there is a new virus in our environment. However, there may be some additional precautions to reduce your risk of infection," Dejano concluded.  FPL (FREEMAN)