Paradoxical increase in frequency of physical activity behavior during SARS-CoV-2 restriction measures in a greek university community

Problem statement The COVID-19 pandemic has affected physical activity (PA) all over the world. In Greece, all sports activities were closed, and restrictions in public places could lead to a decrease in PA. Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate how these restriction measures affected the frequency of physical activity, related to gender, age, body weight, and physical condition, in members of a Greek university. Results An online survey, which concerned sports activity prior the onset of SARS-CoV-2 virus and during the restriction measures, was conducted during the 2^nd lockdown in Greece (November – December 2020). A questionnaire was sent to members of a Greek university. Data analysis was performed using SPSS, version 26. Frequencies, descriptive analysis, and chi square were calculated. The difference between, before, and during the period were accessed by the Wilcoxon signed rank test. There was an increase of frequency in PA behavior during confinements compared with before the restrictions (p<0.001). Females were more likely to participate in individual PA and in online exercise programs (n=316). Most of the responders chose to be involved in more than one form of PA during the confinements. The younger age group (18–25 years old) and older age group (55 +) exercised on a daily basis. In total, 41.9% of participants mentioned they intend to integrate exercise into their daily life when the restrictions eliminate. Conclusions The results are encouraging for participation in different types of PA, including online fitness programs. Supporting measures to participate in PA, as a way of dealing with the negative effects of the pandemic, are valuable.