Over the years, when someone had a problem, people would suggest that the person should write to his/her Congressman/woman. And sometimes it actually works! However, the issue is usually resolved when a lot of people write. That’s what I just did, and I hope a number of people will do the same. What did I write to him about? Not a foreign relation problem or political issue, or anything historical. Something much closer to home. Even more important the the problems of greater restrictions for restaurants are the problems facing small and medium-sized gyms.

Yes, me, the most un-athletic woman you’d ever meet is extremely concerned about gyms. Before the pandemic there were 40,000 small and medium-size gyms in the US. Since the middle of March, 6,000 have already closed, and by the end of the year, it’s expected that one in four existing gyms will go into bankruptcy. Though many businesses have received a lifeline from a variety of federal relief programs, gyms rarely qualify because of their unique requirements and extremely specific types of expenses. They need assistance now, not months from now!

As much as we might like to eat in a restaurant, or maybe meet friends for a drink, it’s actually important that we go to the gym. With the extreme measures they take constantly to keep things safe, I go regularly. My 93-year-old mother goes regularly. Why would we do that in the middle of a pandemic? Because research has shown that consistent physical work reduces the risk of infectious diseases, as well as chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease. Regular workouts are also part of weight loss.

And? Well, check the CDC. They keep telling us that diabetes, heart disease and obesity put people at a much higher risk for Covid-19. In addition, lockdowns for schoolchildren and adults working at home are adding pounds. We used to talk about the freshman 15. Now there’s the Covid 19. Even worse is the depression that is causing serious problems for the young, old, and inbetween-ers. With proper precautions–including masks, hand washing, social distancing, and proper ventilation, we should give serious thought to going back to the gym. And if it’s not right for some of us, at least help them now so that they will still be there when you can go back.

How do we help? Take a look at the Community Gym Coalition. There’s more information there, and with one click you can “write your Congressman/woman,” and tell them how extremely important it is for them to help the small/medium gyms. They are not only keeping people employed, they are keeping people healthy and better able to deal with Covid-19 or whatever else comes our way.

If you’d like to see more of the research, take a look at Exercise Immunology Review from the University of Bath. Below are the conclusions:

Concluding Remarks

Contemporary evidence from epidemiological studies shows that leading a physically active lifestyle reduces the incidence of communicable (e.g., bacterial and viral infections) and non-communicable diseases (e.g., cancer), implying that immune competency is enhanced by regular exercise bouts. However, to this day, research practice, academic teaching, and even physical activity promotion and prescription continues to consider a prevailing myth that exercise can temporarily suppress immune function. We have critically reviewed related evidence, and conclude that regular physical activity and frequent exercise are beneficial, or at the very least, are not detrimental to immunological health. We summarize that (i) limited reliable evidence exists to support the claim that exercise suppresses cellular or soluble immune competency, (ii) exercise per se does not heighten the risk of opportunistic infections, and (iii) exercise can enhance in vivoimmune responses to bacterial, viral, and other antigens. In addition, we present evidence showing that regular physical activity and frequent exercise might limit or delay immunological aging. We conclude that leading an active lifestyle is likely to be beneficial, rather than detrimental, to immune function, which may have implications for health and disease in older age.