It is undoubtedly in the sights of the government and is now raging a lot of caregivers: while the Hexagon lives a historic period of confinement, the practice of jogging remains authorized. It is therefore not uncommon to see sweaty runners - with proper authorization - swallowing the kilometers, when a large part of the population remains at home and the coronavirus epidemic affects more and more people.
But this practice, restricted by the government this Tuesday to outings alone, an hour maximum and 1 km from home, is it really really dangerous for runners and those they are likely to come across? No, say two sports doctors.
Almost impossible not to be contaminated by running in pairs
The coronavirus is transmitted by droplets, respiratory secretions from the nose and mouth, which are therefore found in the air, reminds the Parisian sports doctor Bénédicte Léoutre-Falmagne, who practices in Lorraine. "What has been proven is that contact must last a few minutes before the virus can be transmitted between two people," she said. If you meet someone for less than a minute, the likelihood of contagion is minimal. ”
"If we run alone, there is no problem," she continues. But if two people run together for 10 minutes, even one meter apart, it is obvious that there will be a contagion. While running, we stir the air and we reject more droplets in front of the face. "
Doctor Marc Rozenblat, president of the national union of sports doctors, also recommends getting away from people who sweat. “The virus gets everywhere and especially on the skin. It is therefore possible that a drop of sweat that would settle on someone else's skin could be a vector. Especially since the virus loves the humid environment. I also recommend everyone to avoid sweating when they are in the company of other people, even indoors, to avoid contamination. "
Watch out for elevator buttons or mailboxes
One of the major risks lies in contact with surfaces. In particular the doors, elevator buttons, mailboxes… that the runner could touch before and after his jogging, as well as the weight machines, which sometimes line the racing circuits.
“The virus has a different lifespan depending on the materials. On metal, it is estimated that it can go up to 12 hours, explains Bénédicte Léoutre-Falmagne. So someone touching a device or surface that has not been disinfected may be contaminated. ” You should also not touch the clothes of a person who has run and therefore perspired, adds the specialist.
The two doctors, questioned very regularly on this point by their patients, recommend giving up these jogging on the street for the moment. “Like all outings, it is risky. As soon as someone goes out, they touch the doors, the walls, the gates and they meet people, that's where the risk of transmission is. It is impossible to go out without touching anything, unless he lives in the countryside and he manages to run without meeting anyone, ”says Dr. Léoutre-Falmagne, who advises doing cardio exercises at home or run on a staggered schedule.
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"You can't talk about jogging if you have to stay a kilometer, it's ridiculous," adds Dr. Rozenblat. Will people run around in circles around their block? It's complicated, if not impossible. It makes much more sense to stay at home and let out those who will care for the sick. "
"You can push the furniture"
Rather, he recommends doing an hour of sport at home every day. “You can push the furniture and run in a circle or on the spot, in front of the window, with a little fresh air. There is indeed a marathoner who trains at home, he laughs. You can do stretching, muscle strengthening, or go up and down your stairs to talk. This increases the level of endorphin and it prevents depression. "
However, the specialist does not recommend that Covid-19 sufferers exercise too much at home. “Even for those who have no symptoms, you have to be careful and avoid breathlessness at all costs. At the slightest warning sign, like a cough, we stop. "
Also watch out for an abrupt stop in jogging. For some runners, there is a “benefit / risk to study before stopping any outing to run, Bénédicte Léoutre-Falmagne analysis. It depends on the psychological state of the patient. There are people who have developed an addiction to sport and if they do not run, there is a risk of psychological decompensation. "
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