Effects of a 48-Day Home Quarantine during the Covid-19 Pandemic on the First Outdoor Running Session among Recreational Runners in Spain

Abstract

COVID-19-induced quarantine may lead to deleterious effects on health status as well as to impaired performance and increased injury risk when re-starting training after lockdown. We investigated the physical activity (PA) habits of recreational runners in Spain during a 48-day home quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic and the characteristics of the first outdoor running session after confinement. A cross-sectional study, including a self-reported running questionnaire completed after the first outdoor running session after quarantine, was performed. Three hundred recreational runners (74% males; 60% 18–40 years old; most typical running experience >3 years, 10–30 km weekly running distance distributed in 3–4 sessions) were considered for analysis. Advanced runners ran, at least, 4 days/week and participated in running events. They performed significantly longer and more non-supervised weekly training sessions during confinement (p < 0.01 for both) than novice and amateur runners. Most runners performed their first outdoor running session on asphalt (65.3%) and ran 5 to 10 km (61%) at a pace above 5 min/km (60%), reporting no pain before (77%), during (64%), and 24 h after (76%) the session. Advanced runners performed a significantly longer running session, at a higher pace, and covered a greater distance (p < 0.01 for all) than novice and amateur runners, while enjoyment and motivation tended to be significantly higher when runners’ level increased (p < 0.05). Higher training levels prior to and during confinement may lower the collateral effects (e.g., detraining, injury risk) of home quarantine when runners return to previous PA levels.

Injury Characteristics among Young Adults during and Immediately after the COVID-19 Lockdown

“…This might be linked to training load management errors, since peaks in load can lead to injury, especially in the amateur population [ 37 ]. Mosqueira-Ourens et al [ 19 ] recorded the characteristics of the first outdoor running session after quarantine. They observed that advanced runners who covered longer distances during quarantine were capable of coping with the load in the first outdoor running session without pain.…”

“…This circumstance could be interpreted as an opportunity generated by lockdowns for non-exercisers to begin a regular exercise routine [ 18 ]. An inverse association between the collateral effects of home confinement and the training volume prior to and during lockdown was concluded in Spanish recreational runners according to a study investigating the effects of a 48-day home quarantine on the first outdoor running session [ 19 ]. Considering the published data, intensity-related and weight-bearing exercises were the most practiced during lockdown (75%), with more than 60% of people training on their own [ 20 ].…”

Changes in Motivation, Socialization, Wellness and Mental Health in Youth Long-Distance Runners During COVID-19 Social Distancing Restrictions

“…However, during spring 2020 of the COVID-19 pandemic, youth long-distance runners reported a decrease in their running habits, including reduced running distance (decreased 14.0%), total number of runs per week (decreased 14.0%), and number of hard runs per week (decreased 27.0%) (Bazett-Jones et al, 2020). This is in contrast with adult runners that reportedly increased their running behaviors following social distancing restrictions (DeJong et al, 2021;Holmes et al, 2021;Mosqueira-Ourens et al, 2021). Adults who made more changes to their running behaviors were injured more but these changes were due to multiple factors (Holmes et al, 2021).…”

Balance performance analysis after the COVID-19 quarantine in children aged between 8 and 12 years old: Longitudinal study

“…This was also to avoid the collapse in world health systems and prevent the death of many. [5] . Consequently, the COVID-19-induced quarantine caused a drastic reduction in levels of physical activity in adults and children as well.…”