Physical exercise: 5 minutes are enough!

The pandemic has led many people to exercise more and pushed others to the couch more. If you belong to the second category, do not get upset. Restrictive measures have dramatically reduced the physical activity that many people usually do through simply socializing outdoors or going to work. There is salvation for all of you. Researchers from King’s College London found out that even five minutes of activity are enough to shake off the bad habits of the pandemic.

The study

The team  of scientists compared levels of physical activity that people with genetic muscle disorders, such as muscular dystrophy did before and near quarantine. Participants consisted of adults with a variety of physical abilities: some could move with great ease while others needed help. The study also included 41 people in wheelchairs, which studies often overlook. The results, according to the researchers, apply to people with a variety of abilities, as isolation due to coronavirus or working remotely “disrupted” the daily routine of many people. The study lasted a whole year and the accelerometers measured the level of physical activity in 2019, before the quarantine until the end of the quarantine in 2020. The sensors recorded the duration, regularity and degree of movement in four different categories: strong, gentle, low exercise and sedentary lifestyle.

The results

The results showed a significant drop in the degree of physical activity that participants did each day. People, on average, did almost an hour and a half of gentle exercise each day before quarantine. As a result of the lockdown, people spent an average of 25 minutes less each day on low-activity tasks and moved less frequently during the day. “The reduction in light activity found in this study is likely to affect all those that were in a lockdown. Based on our findings, we recommend that people move their bodies for 5 minutes every hour during the day. In addition, spend 30 minutes each day doing some extra light activity, such as yoga or chair exercises. The World Health Organization’s guidelines state that every move counts”, study author and neurological physiotherapist, Sarah Roberts-Lewis said. Giota Florou Source: studyfinds.org Recent Articles