engleski

Physical activity in the time of COVID–19 pandemics

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID – 19) has swept across the world, causing a global pandemic. Exercise restrictions have been the consequence of closed gyms and sports centers, restrictions on walking distance, lack of space and infrastructure for home-based physical exercise, and lack of technical knowledge of the population on appropriate training routines. Before the pandemic, insufficient physical activity was already described as a global public health problem. Many authors point out insufficient physical activity as important risk factor for development of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity, as well as mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. In this research, we wanted to determine the difference in the level of physical activity during the lockdown due to COVID – 19 pandemics compared to post lockdown level of physical activity, in students. For this research, we recruited 102 participants, students at University of Zagreb (36 female and 66 male), average 23.03 ± 1.39 years old. Participants took part in online survey. In this research we used International Physical Activity Questionnaire – short form (IPAQ SF). Total level of physical activity was assessed by following guidelines for data processing and analysis of the IPAQ SF. Analyzed data were reported as comparisons of median values and interquartile ranges, in MET-min/week. Analysis of IPAQ SF completed during the COVID– 19 lockdown and special restrictive governments' rules shows participants’ total physical activity METminutes/ week median was 4259. After the lockdown, participants’ total physical activity MET- minutes/week median was 5850. Results show 37, 35% higher level of physical activity after the lockdown compared to the time during the lockdown due to COVID -19 pandemic. Unsurprisingly, results suggest much higher level of physical activity after the lockdown due to COVID – 19 pandemics in comparison with the time during the lockdown, however difference in level of physical activity is worryingly large. We believe there are more reasons to it, and some include lack of home – based exercising awareness and inability to spend time outdoors where government didn’t set restrictions. Subjects of this research were kinesiology students, presumably more active population, and we assume that drop in the physical activity level of general population is even greater. This 119 research hasn’t observed short- and long – term effects of lockdown caused by the COVID – 19 pandemics on participants health status, a subject which require more attention in the future. However, we believe there is a need to create and implement exercise – based programs as well as setting up interactive educational campaigns on national level in order to increase the level of physical activity not only in youth, but in all the population after the pandemic.

leisure time ; isolation ; quarantine ; exercise ; well-being

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