Are you feeling sluggish because of the COVID-19 epidemic? You’re not alone if your fitness habits have changed.
There is increasing evidence that the pandemic has had a profound impact on how people exercise not just in the United States, but all over the globe. A study was published in November 2020 by the Annals of Internal Medicine. It found that physical activity levels fell dramatically in many countries following the pandemic.
A study was published in February 2021 by the Journal of Medical Internet Research. Experts used an activity-tracking app on their smartphones to examine the exercise habits of almost 5,400 people living in the United Kingdom after the pandemic. Activity levels for running, walking, and cycling dropped most among those who were most active prior to the pandemic. This was also true for people 65 years or younger. Only 65-year-olds seemed to be able to get back to their normal physical activity after the pandemic restrictions were lifted.
“I see people who were active before — who used to go to the gym often or take part in group exercise classes. But they stopped because of the pandemic,” states Cindy Lin. Lin is a clinical associate professor of spine medicine and assistant director of clinical innovations at the Sports Institute at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Patients who have difficulty with exercise or sports are often seen by her, sometimes because of musculoskeletal issues like tendon injuries and osteoarthritis.
Brandee L. Waite MD is the director of physical medicine rehabilitation for the University of California in Davis’s sports medicine fellowship. She says that she doesn’t find it surprising that people have had difficulty keeping up with their exercise routines since the pandemic.
She explains that when there is a disruption to your daily routine, the things you lose are those that make you money and take care of your family. Often, your personal fitness is the one that is forgotten.
Dr. Waite points out that you may feel less motivated to exercise if your mental health is being affected by isolation and social distancing. Although physical activity is a great way to lift mood and ease anxiety and stress symptoms, it can also be an effective antidote for depression and anxiety. However, if you are struggling with any of these issues, you may find it difficult to get moving. She also mentions that depending on your location, there may be fewer opportunities for exercise due to closing gyms or working from home.
Even if you are not depressed and have more time, it may be harder to exercise now that the COVID-19 epidemic has rearranged your routine. “Sometimes, when we have more time we’re like, ‘I’ll make it later.'” says James Houle (Ph.D.), who is a specialist in sports psychology at the Ohio State University Wexner Hospital in Columbus. He says that if there is a lot to do, you will schedule in exercise and stick with it.
This post was written by Darryl Johnson, Co-Owner of Apex performance. At Apex performance we are a community of highly trained experts looking to provide performance enhancement and a permanent lifestyle change for our clients in a fun and interactive environment. Members can take advantage of one-on-one training, small group classes, and specialized courses for a wide variety of athletics sports training and body goals!
