Evaluation of the Physical Activity Intensity in Primary School Children During the Lockdown

The COVID-19 pandemic led governments to impose measures to reduce virus transmissibility, leading to the home office, and children were sent home to take online classes. These restrictions affected children's movement time and interrupting sports activities. This study aimed to assess the levels of children's physical activity (PA) during confinement. Children used an accelerometer in their non-dominant wrist to measure levels of PA and separated by sedentary-to-light or moderate-to-vigorous intensities, for four consecutive days (two days during the week and two during the weekend. Results showed that children spent only one hour in moderate-to-vigorous physical activities per day, but it is not consecutively. In addition, we also analyze the consecutive time of PA, which provides further information regarding children's activity patterns. Besides, children spend most of their time at sedentary levels, being more active during the weekend days. Regarding the environment, there are significant differences between having outdoor space and living in a house or apartment. Children have increased their sedentary levels by spending more time in sedentary activities. Our findings provide further evidence that COVID-19 affected PA levels in children. This behavior can affect long-term mental and physical health if subjected to long-term assessment.