Governments have restricted public life during the COVID-19 pandemic, inter alia closing sports facilities and gyms. As regular exercise is essential for health, this study examined the effect of pandemic-related confinements on physical activity (PA) levels. A multinational survey was performed in 14 countries. Times spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) as well as in vigorous physical activity only (VPA) were assessed using the Nordic Physical Activity Questionnaire (short form). Data were obtained for leisure and occupational PA pre- and during restrictions. Compliance with PA guidelines was calculated based on the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO). In total, n = 13,503 respondents (39 ± 15 years, 59% females) were surveyed. Compared to pre-restrictions, overall self-reported PA declined by 41% (MVPA) and 42.2% (VPA). Reductions were higher for occupational vs. leisure time, young and old vs. middle-aged persons, previously more active vs. less active individuals, but similar between men and women. Compared to pre-pandemic, compliance with WHO guidelines decreased from 80.9% (95% CI: 80.3–81.7) to 62.5% (95% CI: 61.6–63.3). Results suggest PA levels have substantially decreased globally during the COVID-19 pandemic. Key stakeholders should consider strategies to mitigate loss in PA in order to preserve health during the pandemic.

Most countries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic have repeatedly restricted public life to control the contagion. However, the health impact of confinement measures is hitherto unclear. We performed a multinational survey investigating changes in mental and physical well-being (MWB/PWB) during the first wave of the pandemic. A total of 14,975 individuals from 14 countries provided valid responses. Compared to pre-restrictions, MWB, as measured by the WHO-5 questionnaire, decreased considerably during restrictions (68.1 ± 16.9 to 51.9 ± 21.0 points). Whereas 14.2% of the participants met the cutoff for depression screening pre-restrictions, this share tripled to 45.2% during restrictions. Factors associated with clinically relevant decreases in MWB were female sex (odds ratio/OR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.11–1.29), high physical activity levels pre-restrictions (OR = 1.29, 95% CI 1.16–1.42), decreased vigorous physical activity during restrictions (OR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.05–1.23), and working (partially) outside the home vs. working remotely (OR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.16–1.44/OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.23–1.47). Reductions, although smaller, were also seen for PWB. Scores in the SF-36 bodily pain subscale decreased from 85.8 ± 18.7% pre-restrictions to 81.3 ± 21.9% during restrictions. Clinically relevant decrements of PWB were associated with female sex (OR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.50–1.75), high levels of public life restrictions (OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.18–1.36), and young age (OR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.03–1.19). Study findings suggest lockdowns instituted during the COVID-19 pandemic may have had substantial adverse public health effects. The development of interventions mitigating losses in MWB and PWB is, thus, paramount when preparing for forthcoming waves of COVID-19 or future public life restrictions.

Confinement measures during the COVID-19 pandemic have caused substantial reductions in global physical activity (PA) levels. In view of the manifold health benefits of PA, the development of interventions counteracting this trend is paramount. Our survey with 15,261 participants (38 ± 15 years, 58.5% females) examined preferences towards digital home exercise programs in 14 countries affected by COVID-19. More than two-thirds of the sample (68.4%, n = 10,433) indicated being interested in home exercise, and most participants were willing to work out at least three times per week (89.3%, n = 9328). Binary logistic regression revealed that female sex, working part-time, younger age, and being registered in a gym were associated with willingness to exercise. Flexibility (71.1%, n = 7377), resistance (68.6%, n = 7116), and endurance training (62.4%, n = 6478) were the most preferred types of exercise. Our results may guide health providers in developing individually tailored PA interventions during the current and future pandemics.

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SÁNCHEZ, R. C. Caracterización morfológica del arco plantar longitudinal medial del pie en una población Chilena. Int. J. Morphol., 35(1):85-91, 2017. RESUMEN:El arco plantar longitudinal medial del pie (APLM) es el componente más importante en estática y dinámica de la bóveda plantar. Su altura define pies normales, planos y cavos, estos últimos son factores predisponentes de lesiones. El objetivo de este estudio fue describir y relacionar en una población de estudiantes universitarios chilenos la prevalencia de pies normales, cavos y planos según índice de masa corporal (IMC), sexo y actividad física (AF) semanal y la distribución de asimetrías entre pies. Se estudió a 209 sujetos (128 hombres y 81 mujeres), estudiantes universitarios, cuya edad, estatura, peso e IMC fue de 20,4 años (±3,4); 1,68 m (±0,09); 67,6 Kg (±12,4) y 23,77 (±3,0) respectivamente. Por medio de cuestionario se determinó los hábitos de AF de la muestra. La impresión plantar se obtuvo mediante fotopodoscopía, la cual fue evaluada empleando el Arch Index (AI) de Cavanagh y Rodgers. Los hombres presentan mayor prevalencia de pie plano (31,3 % contra 11,1 %). Hay correlación positiva estadísticamente significativa entre AI e IMC en ambos sexos. Se obtuvo mayor correlación entre AI izquierdo y AF en hombres y mujeres con significancia estadística. El 31,25 % de los hombres y el 37,04 % de las mujeres presentaron asimetrías en APLM. Hombres con IMC normal tienen 64,20 % de pies asimétricos. Las mujeres que practican entre 6 y 10 horas de AF a la semana presentan 50,98 % de pies asimétricos. El IMC se relaciona con una disminución de la altura del APLM, se sugiere el control de esta variable en sujetos con diagnóstico de pie plano flexible y pie plano valgo. La práctica de AF se relaciona con aumento de la altura del APLM en hombres y mujeres y se sabe que también contribuye a disminuir el IMC, actuando en concordancia hacia estas dos variables.PALABRAS CLAVE: Arco plantar; Pie plano; Pie Cavo; Arch Index. INTRODUCCIÓNEl ser humano es un mamífero plantígrado, pero a diferencia de otros, la configuración morfológica de la planta del pie, se ha descrito como medio domo o bóveda con tres puntos de apoyo principales y que, al juntar ambos pies, se forma una bóveda completa (Snell, 2002). El arco plantar longitudinal medial (APLM) se ha reconocido como el principal y más importante componente, tanto en la estática como en la dinámica de la bóveda plantar, debido a que es el que posee mayor longitud y altura y porque es la estructura con mayor incidencia en la absorción, acumulación y devolución de fuerzas gravitacionales durante los apoyos (Kapandji, 2010).El APLM debe su morfología a la constitución anató-mica de los huesos que lo componen, a la mantención pasiva que prestan estructuras ligamentosas, y a la función activa de músculos intrínsecos y extrínsecos del pie (Viladot, 2000).Según la altura del arco, tradicionalmente se han identificado tres tipologías de pie: normal, plano y cavo. Pies planos y cavos se han reconocido como factores predisp...