Factors associated with decreased physical activity levels among community-dwelling residents during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: a long-term observational study.
Shogo Kawada, Takami Maeno, Shoji Yokoya and 1 others
PMID 37266367WHAT IT FOUND
Working adults were twice as likely to lose daily steps during pandemic restrictions compared to those not working.
Health literacy made no difference. Therapists should prioritize home exercise plans for employed patients, as their routine walking drops significantly when they shift to sedentary work.
Key findings
01Working status was significantly associated with a decrease in daily steps, with an odds ratio of 1.93.
02Health literacy scores did not differ significantly between those who lost steps and those who maintained them.
03Nearly half of the participants experienced a decline in daily steps over the long-term pandemic period.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study was conducted in a single city in Japan with a low rate of COVID-19 cases, so results may not apply to areas with stricter lockdowns or higher infection rates. Participants were already enrolled in a health promotion program and owned pedometers, suggesting they had higher motivation to walk than the general population. The study did not examine specific work characteristics, such as whether participants were teleworking or commuting, which may be the actual driver of the activity decline. Data was missing for many participants who did not complete the questionnaire or had insufficient step data, potentially biasing the sample toward those who remained engaged.
Declared interests
None declared. The study received no specific funding.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that patients with high health literacy will maintain their physical activity levels during restrictive periods. This study found no significant association between health literacy scores and step count changes, meaning knowledge alone did not protect employed individuals from losing their daily movement.