Role and Possible Molecular Mechanism of Physical Exercise in Resisting the Occurrence and Development of COVID-19

Since its initial outbreak in December 2019, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly spread worldwide, with the number of infections and deaths continuing to surge. However, due to its wide range of symptoms and clinical difference of patients, it takes time to develop specific clinical drugs, therefore, other intervention strategies that can prevent and auxiliarily treat COVID-19 is needed. On the basis of the molecular mechanism of physical exercise's antiviral function and the pathogenesis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the potential role of physical exercise is discussed in resisting SARS-CoV-2 infection, delaying the disease development, reducing severe disease incidence, and decreasing patient complications via improving cellular immune function, enhancing antioxidant defense ability, and improving endothelial dysfunction induced by virus and iron metabolism. Thus, a physiological basis is provided for advocating and promoting active participation in physical exercise to resist COVID-19.