Influence of an atypical academic year on the physical activity levels of 1st year students Physiotherapy

Introduction: Portugal is one of the European Union countries with the lowest rate of Physical Activity (PA), with only 40% of the population being active. During the university period, there is a coincidence of increased autonomy and decision-making among students, and changes in life habits, usually associated with a decrease in PA practice. In percentage terms, 30% of university students are considered physically inactive. There are few studies on PA levels in higher education students, namely in the Physiotherapy course, and even less that relate this topic to the imposed containment measures, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective: Description and comparison of the PA levels of students enrolled in the 1st year of a Physiotherapy Degree, in the academic year 2019/2020. Understand if there are differences in the practice of PA, at different times of the school year, one of which is the lockdown period. Methods: Data were collected using the “International Physical Activity Questionnaire” (IPAQ). It was shared in 3 moments (academic period without evaluations, exam period and lockdown), being a longitudinal study. Results: Physiotherapy students seem to be active regarding the parameter of PA frequency. With the lockdown, there was an increase in the level of PA in 20% of students compared to the school period without assessments, with 14.3% being raised to a high level of PA. The high percentage of students (42.9%) who maintained a high PA level should be highlighted. There was a significant difference from the 1st to the 2nd moment, at the IPAQ level, with a decrease in PA (p = 0.03) with the exam period. Discussion: In the exams period, although the workload is less, there seems to have been a decrease in PA levels. In the lockdown, aspects are presumed to have been removed, which in a normal situation would compromise the practice of PA, leading to better results in some of the variables. The lockdown doesn’t appear to have had a negative impact on PA. Conclusion: The objective of this study was achieved, establishing a starting point for the assessment of PA levels, in university students, in the period of COVID-19. As the sample is composed of future health professionals, it’s important that they be the first to adopt an active lifestyle, thus promoting it.