What’s the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on our Physical Activity?

Flash back to your teenage years. Yep... the ones where you knew absolutely everything and anyone who tried to tell you otherwise was a dummkopf. Mom or dad, maybe even crazy aunt Sue seemed to always find a way to wreck your plans. They would disrupt your scheduled after school video games to tell you that the neighbor's dog died, they would force you to play on the Timbits soccer team, make you take all kinds of medicine when you got sick, and somehow, they would always make you spend quality family time having you play monopoly with your 6 younger cousins.  

You are now free to come back. I apologize if that flash back was traumatizing for you, but the truth is, that’s how a handful of Calgarians have felt between June and October of 2020. Only this time around, your parents (or crazy aunt Sue) are replaced by a global pandemic, the bills are stacking up and you have 3 monkeys hanging off of your limbs, depending on your every move and decision for their survival.

A group of researchers from Calgary, Petersen et al. (2021), wanted to take a closer look at how the pandemic has affected us; specifically in the areas of physical activity and sedentary behaviour. The research team interviewed 6 females and 6 male adults aged 20-70 years of age, to get a better understanding of how the pandemic has affected physical activity, sedentary behavior, and perceptions of health (para. 1). Through the interviews they conducted, four main themes stood out; disruption to daily routines, changes in physical activity, balancing health, and family life.

As crazy as it seems, these past 2 years you might have been able to relate to your younger teenage self on a whole new level. Many of you survived creating ‘new normals’ as old routines crumbled; you persevered finding alternative ways to get physical activity; you attempted to remain sane by balancing multiple aspects of your health (disclaimer that you probably didn’t and that is perfectly okay); and lastly, you stayed connected by spending quality time with your family, even if it was done virtually.

The findings from this research prove that the response to COVID-19 during these times challenged us all and pushed us to new limits. While the future remains unclear, it is evident that adults need an alternative approach to participating in physical activities as indoor spaces are continually at risk of closure (para 7.).

If you need some inspiration for outdoor activities in Calgary, check out this website!

To view the full research article, click here.