The effect of social distancing due to the COVID-19 on adult and elderly exercises.

Abstract

Objective: Social distancing due to COVID-19 pandemic could lead people to lower exercise engagement. The objective of this paper is to describe and compare the types of physical exercises participants were engaged, as well their frequency, duration, and intensity, in three different periods: 2019 (1), Jan/Feb 2020 (2), and during the social distancing period due to the COVID-19 pandemic (3). Methods: This is a cross-sectional study and its population was composed of adults and elderly from a public recreation center. The participants were invited by social media to answer a survey on Google Forms dealing with the characteristics of the physical exercises practiced in the three periods covered in this research. The survey was made available during October 2020. Results: Took part in this study 194 participants (63.49±14.14 years; 93.2% women). During period 1 the most practiced exercises was strength/aerobic class, twice/week, from 46 minutes to 1 hour/session, at intensity 6. During period 2, walking was the most mentioned, three times/week, from 31 to 45min/session, at intensity 7. During period 3, strength/aerobic class was the most frequent, three times/week, from 31 to 45min/session, at intensity 5. Conclusion: When compared to the period 1, there was a decrease (p <0.05) in the total time of exercise in periods 2 and 3, and there was also, in these last two periods, a decrease in the number (p <0.05) of participants who reached WHO guidelines of 150min/75min per week of exercise.