Physical activity, sedentary behaviour and screen time among youths with Down syndrome during the COVID-19 pandemic.
S Amatori, D Sisti, F Perroni and 3 others
PMID 35445779WHAT IT FOUND
Youths with Down syndrome saw physical activity halve during lockdown, and it did not return to pre-pandemic levels even after restrictions eased.
Sedentary and screen time spiked but recovered. Parents’ activity also remained low, breaking the link between parent and child activity levels.
Key findings
01Physical activity dropped from 226.8 to 105.2 minutes per week during restrictions and only partially recovered to 158.4 minutes during easing, remaining significantly below pre-pandemic levels.
02Sedentary behaviour and screen time increased significantly during restrictions but returned to non-significant differences from pre-pandemic levels during the easing phase.
03The positive correlation between parent and child physical activity present before the pandemic was lost during the restrictions-easing phase.
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
Data were proxy-reported by parents, which may introduce recall bias and inaccuracies compared to objective measures like accelerometers. The study was cross-sectional in design (one survey point asking about three past periods), relying on retrospective memory of pre-pandemic and lockdown behaviours. The sample size was relatively small (57 participants) and drawn from specific family associations, which may not represent the broader population of youths with Down syndrome. The study did not measure the intensity of physical activity with objective devices, relying on parent perception of 'moderate or vigorous' effort.
Declared interests
The authors declared no competing interests. The study received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that sedentary behaviour and screen time remain elevated in the post-lockdown period. The study found that while these behaviours spiked during restrictions, they returned to pre-pandemic levels during the easing phase. The persistent problem identified was the lack of recovery in physical activity levels, not ongoing high sedentary time.