Evaluations of Muscular Strength, Ability to Balance and Health Status in Prisoners during COVID-19

Stefano Moffa, Angelica Perna, Alessandro Cattolico, Carmine Sellitto, Antonio Ascione, Domenico Tafuri, Germano Guerra and Angela Lucariello
Additional contact information
Stefano Moffa: Department of Medicine and Health Sciences “Vincenzo Tiberio”, University of Molise, Via F. De Santis, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
Angelica Perna: Department of Medicine and Health Sciences “Vincenzo Tiberio”, University of Molise, Via F. De Santis, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
Alessandro Cattolico: Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, Section of Human Anatomy, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Napoli, Italy
Carmine Sellitto: Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, Section of Human Anatomy, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Napoli, Italy
Antonio Ascione: Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University “Aldo Moro”, Piazza Umberto I, 70121 Bari, Italy
Domenico Tafuri: Department of Sport Sciences and Wellness, University of Naples “Parthenope”, Via Medina 40, 80133 Naples, Italy
Germano Guerra: Department of Medicine and Health Sciences “Vincenzo Tiberio”, University of Molise, Via F. De Santis, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
Angela Lucariello: Department of Sport Sciences and Wellness, University of Naples “Parthenope”, Via Medina 40, 80133 Naples, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 8, 1-11

Abstract: Recent events in prisons during the COVID-19 pandemic showed how the health situation and overcrowding in prisons are a source of high risk to the health and physical and mental well-being of the prison population and how this has become an important medical problem. The original purpose of this study, which was initially planned to last 6 months, was to examine the effects of a training program on cardio-respiratory capacity, resistance to dynamic strength of the upper and lower body and muscle mass. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the purpose was subsequently modified by highlighting whether and which deficiencies occurred as a result of the absence of physical activity. Forty adult men between 35 and 55 years of age with more than 1 year of detention were selected and randomly divided into two groups: the experimental group and control group. The fitness training protocol of the experimental group consisted of three weekly sessions lasting 90 min, while control group subjects followed a walk of 30–60 min three days a week without running or resistance training. The unpaired and paired t-tests revealed significant effects of both health status and fitness level ( p < 0.05; p < 0.01) on group training. The results of this research show that prisoners can improve their fitness and health through participation in physical education programs. This conclusion is especially important for prisoners who have to serve very long prison sentences and who are at great risk of showing poor physical condition levels.

Keywords: prisoners; fitness levels; health status; COVID-19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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