Fluctuations in Physical Activity over the Course of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction: Several studies have indicated that physical activity (PA) declined during the restrictions associated with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, research comparing PA before the pandemic and during the pandemic-related restrictions to a more recent period when pandemic-related restrictions ended is limited. The purpose of this study was to compare PA across three timepoints: prior to the start of the pandemic (T1), the initial six-months of the pandemic (T2), and 18 – 24 months after the onset of the pandemic (T3). Methods: University students (N = 149, n = 80 female) who owned an Apple iPhone reported PA (average steps/day) using the Health app at three timepoints: T1 (9/2019-3/2020), T2 (3/2020-8/2020), and T3 (9/2021-3/2022). Results: A one-way repeated measures ANOVA demonstrated a significant main effect (F = 11.4, p < 0.001) for changes in average daily steps across timepoints. Steps were significantly lower (p £ 0.004) during T2 (5045 ± 2423 steps/day) when compared to T1 (5674 ± 2856 steps/day) and T3 (6010 ± 2616 steps/day). No significant differences (p = 0.11) were found between T1 and T3. Conclusions: During the initial six months of the pandemic participants reduced steps by 11%, which supports previous research. Subsequently, current evidence supports a novel recovery in steps in the six months prior to data collection as PA returned to baseline values. Future research is warranted to determine if other negative behaviors that may have been adopted during the pandemic have since abated.