Impact Of Exercise Delivery Mode Under The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Comparison Of Face-to-face Versus Zoom In Patients With Diabetes And/or Hypertension

Abstract

Patients were commonly referred to a face-to-face center-based exercise program by healthcare providers. With the recent restriction on social gathering under the impact of Covid-19 pandemic, online exercise program delivered through videoconferencing system (e.g., Zoom) may be a promising solution to overcome this barrier. To date, little information is known about the relative effectiveness of exercise program delivered through face-to-face versus online modes. PURPOSE:To compare the effectiveness of exercise training delivery between the face-to-face and online (Zoom) mode. METHODS:A total of 59 patients (age: 65.7 ± 6.9 yrs-old) with diabetes and/or hypertension completed a 12-week exercise program (60 minutes/session, one session/week) delivered through either a face-to-face (n = 27) or videoconferencing system (Zoom) (n = 32). Health-related physical fitness including handgrip (muscular strength), 30-second chair stand test (lower body strength), chair sit-and-reach test (lower limb flexibility), and 2-minute step test (aerobic endurance) were measured at the baseline and post-intervention. RESULTS:Both groups demonstrated significant improvement in all health-related fitness parameters (p < .05) except the 30-second chair stand test on face-to-face group. Only the 30-second chair-stand test found significant interaction (p < .001). Score of 30-second chair stand test for online group improved from 13.8 ± 0.7 reps to 18.5 ± 0.8 reps (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS:Besides traditional face-to-face exercise delivery mode, online-exercise delivery mode may be an alternative option to improve similar health related outcomes among patients with diabetes and/or hypertension, especially under restriction of social interaction such as the Covid-19 pandemic.