A pandemia de COVID-19 e a saúde mental de idosos: possibilidades de atividade física por meio dos Exergames

This theoretical essay was prepared with the aims to discuss the effects of the pandemic on mental health of elderly people and the contribution of exergames as non-drug therapy for health care in this group in times of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite understanding that restrictive measures for agglomerations are important strategies in controlling the pandemic, social isolation can further increase the vulnerability of the elderly, especially the worsening of psychic morbidities. In this sense, presenting possibilities of physical activities, already proven accepted, as effective therapeutic modalities, in the face of these conditions, and indicating possibilities of moving with exergames, contributes to the increase in the level of physical activity and, consequently, to the improvement mental health of this population.