Journal
JOURNAL OF SPORTS MEDICINE AND PHYSICAL FITNESS
Volume 61, Issue 2, Pages 294-300Publisher
EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA
DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.20.11536-6
Keywords
COVID-19; Exercise; Public health
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
The COVID-19 lockdown in Southern Italy had a negative impact on physical activity, particularly on vigorous intensity and walking, while moderate intensity was less affected. Additionally, there was a significant increase in sitting time during the lockdown.
BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Italian government took security measures to try to limit infections. Restrictive measures included social distancing, home confinement and the closure of all public structures like gyms and swimming pools. The impact of these limitations on health and lifestyle was inevitably negative. The purpose of this study was to establish the level of physical activity (PA), expressed as energy expenditure (MET-minute/week) in a Southern Italian population before and during the COVID-19 lockdown. METHODS: An adapted version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-short form (IPAQ-SF) was published on the official Website of the National Institute of Gastroenterology IRCCS S. de Bettis, Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy and on several social media in May 2020. RESULTS: Three hundred ten replies (72% women) from Apulia (60%), Calabria (28%), Campania (11%) and Sicily (1%) were included in the study. The COVID-19 lockdown had a negative effect on the vigorous PA intensity level and on walking, but not on the moderate PA intensity level. Additionally. daily time spent sitting down increased by more than 12% during the COVID-19 lockdown. CONCLUSIONS: Isolation changed PA behaviors. The decreased energy expenditure (MET-minute/week) during the lockdown had a negative impact in both genders, especially on the young adults and adults' groups.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available