As a consequence of confinement, “physical activity of all kinds has ceased to exist for hundreds of millions of people ”, confirm ISGlobal experts, who forecast serious global health problems due to leverage. For this reason, they urge the application of measures that facilitate exercise in outdoor spaces in the unconfinement plans of Spain.
“Physical activity is essential for good physical, mental and social health, and should be urgently included in the strategy of lack of confidence. We recommend allowing up to an hour a day of physical activity outdoors, emphasizing that physical exercise is done alone and a minimum distance of 1.5 meters is maintained with other people at all times.
“The health impacts of confinement are expected to be extensive and serious”
This is the conclusion of an investigation by the Barcelona Institute of Global Health (ISGlobal), which predicts serious negative effects as a result of the long confinement: “The impacts on health caused by this drastic reduction in physical activity, but are expected to be extensive and serious, given that it has been observed in amateur athletes that the effects of the loss of physical condition take place even after a few weeks ”
The report refers to various studies on exercise reduction. According to data from a monitoring through mobile devices, activity levels Physical losses were reduced by 38% after one week of confinement. And on April 18 the Spanish walked 90% less compared to last January 13.
More on foot and by bicycle, less public and private transport
The researchers propose reviving “access to physical activity in outdoor spaces as soon as possible, to prevent more serious threats to health.” In this sense, they propose the implementation of measures to minimize the risk of Covid-19 infection.
Among them, encourage travel on foot or by bicycle to the detriment of the private vehicle and public transport. Widening sidewalks, bike lanes, and increasing parking spaces.
“The most disadvantaged people should have priority when deconfinition plans are implemented”
It also plans to free parked cars and other obstacles, large outdoor spaces, such as market squares or promenades, and using technology to manage and schedule the use of space. A space that should have points for hand hygiene and disinfection and whose elements should be cleaned more frequently.
“The most disadvantaged people – such as those living in small flats without access to rooftop gardens, balconies, or terraces – should be given priority when deconflation plans are valued and implemented, ”says the research, signed by Sarah Koch, Jill Litt, Carolyn Daher, and Mark. Nieuwenhuijsen. ISGlobal is an alliance between “la Caixa”, universities, health centers and administrations to contribute to the challenges of health in a globalized world.
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