Staying Active under Restrictions: Changes in Type of Physical Exercise during the Initial COVID-19 Lockdown

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Exercise Science
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions significantly altered daily routines and potentially impacted physical activity behaviors.
• Understanding exercise behavior changes during such disruptions is crucial for public health.
• Identifying factors associated with inactivity can inform targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate changes in preferred physical exercise types during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To identify risk factors for physical inactivity during the initial lockdown period.
• To explore the adaptability of exercise routines in response to major societal changes.

Main Methods:

• An international online survey of 13,881 adults across 18 countries/regions during April-May 2020.
• Collection and categorization of free-text exercise data (performed before and during lockdown).
• Analysis using Sankey charts for visualizing changes and mixed-effects logistic regression for risk factors.

Main Results:

• Many participants continued exercising, often shifting from sports to activities like running.
• Endurance, muscular strength, and multimodal exercises were most popular during lockdown.
• Higher education, rural living, and pre-lockdown physical activity were associated with reduced inactivity risk.

Conclusions:

• Most participants adapted their exercise routines or shifted to endurance activities, with few becoming inactive.
• Social distancing constraints did not necessarily lead to widespread physical inactivity and may have encouraged some to start exercising.
• Findings aid in identifying at-risk individuals and optimizing interventions for exercise disruption.