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A Comparison of the Impact of COVID-19-Related Restrictions on Physical Activity Among Public Employees
Philipp Maier1, Oliver Morath, Friedrich Barsch
1From the Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicince, Medical Center University of Freiburg, Institute for Exercise and Occupational Medicine (P.M., O.M., F.B., O.K., P.D.), University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany; and Occupational Medical Service, Freiburg University Medical Center (D.S.), Faculty of Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Objectives:
This article compares the impact of COVID-19-related restrictions on the level of physical activity, performed by public servants, in April and November 2020.
Methods:
The survey examined the amount (in minutes per week) and the energy expenditure (in metabolic equivalent of task in minutes per week [METmin/week]) of physical activity for both before and during contact restrictions in April and November 2020, respectively.
Results:
Especially for sports activity difference was determined by the medians before (April/November: median [Mdn] = 180.0 min/wk) and during (April: Mdn = 130 minutes, November: Mdn = 60 min/wk) restrictions ( P < 0.05).Also for energy consumption (METmin/wk), the medians before and during the contact restrictions declined for both periods.
Conclusions:
Measures against the coronavirus have led to a reduction in activity levels among public employees, regardless of their work environment. The decrease in participation in sport activities seemed to be even more noticeable within the second restriction period.
