Relationship Between Changes In Physical Activity Before And After Lockdown And Motor Function

The lockdown in response to COVID-19 pandemics has often led to physical inactivity. As a result, it is considered that the motor function and ADL ability declined. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of change in physical activity during COVID-19 lockdown in Osaka Japan on motor function and ADL ability of elderly people. METHODS: Thirty-one elderly people (age 60 ± 12.9 yrs.) health club participants participated in this study. Knee to wall (KTW [cm]; ankle mobility, right and left ankle), timed up and go test (TUG [sec.]) and one leg standing test with open eye (OLS [sec.], ADL function, right and left ankle), and stairs up and down time (SU and SD [sec.]; ADL) were measured before and after the COVID-19 lockdown. Then, physical activity during lockdown was investigated. The effect of lockdown was considered from the measurements before and after using ANOVA for TUG, KTW and SU&SD, and Wilcoxon signed rank test for OLS. RESULTS: Changes in physical activity during lockdown period increased in 6 people (UP group), remained unchanged in 9 people (EVEN group), and decreased in 16 people (DOWN group). KTW (average of right and left ankle) before the lockdown was 13.5 ± 3.26, 13.7 ± 3.06, 13.7 ± 2.80 (UP, EVEN, DOWN, respectively). KTW after lockdown were 13.8 ± 3.65, 13.1 ± 3.01, 12.9 ± 2.92 (UP, EVEN, DOWN, respectively). As a result of ANOVA, the effect of interaction (Group and before/after lockdown) was moderate (f = 0.4816). Also, as a result of multiple comparison, KTW of DOWN has decreased significantly after lockdown compared to before. TUG before lockdown were 5.53 ± 1.052, 5.93 ± 0.951, 6.32 ± 2.248, and TUG after lockdown were 5.57 ± 1.169, 5.71 ± 1.075, 6.94 ± 3.613 (UP, EVEN, DOWN, respectively). TUG before lockdown were 5.53 ± 1.052, 5.93 ± 0.951, 6.32 ± 2.248 (UP, EVEN, DOWN, respectively). TUG was not significantly different. Also, there was no difference in SU&SD before and after the lockdown. OLS decreased after lockdown (38.0 ± 23.73 to 36.6 ± 23.47), but there was no difference between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased flexibility of the ankle joint and standing balance were observed in elderly people due to reduced physical activity during lockdown. However, it did not decrease to ADL ability.