Pandemic has affected kids' ability to perform physical activities

The restrictions on enforced during the pandemic have led to a decrease in childrens ability to perform physical activities and maintain body balance new research has foundBy comparing medical examination data before and after the onset of the pandemic they found that the physical functions among adolescents deteriorated including their dynamic balanceThe study published in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health also found that the children had higher body fat levels and worse life habits Rather than a lack of exercise time this may have been because of a lack of quality exercise due to activity restrictionsSince the outbreak of the novel coronavirus children have not been able to engage in sufficient physical education sports activities and outdoor play at school It became clear that balance ability during movement was easily affected lifestyle habits were disrupted and the percentage of body fat was likely to increase explained visiting researcher Tadashi ItoThis may have been because of shorter outdoor playtime and club activities which impeded childrens ability to learn the motor skills necessary to balance during movement Ito addedDuring the pandemic children like adults increased the time they spent looking at television smartphone and computer screens exercised less and slept lessSuch changes in lifestyle can harm adolescent bodies leading to weight gain and health problemsIto and his team conducted a study of Japanese children and students in elementary and junior high schools aged 915 by analysing data from physical examinations before and during the pandemicThey evaluated the childrens muscle strength dynamic balance functions walking speed body fat percentage screen time sleep time quality of life and physical activity timeThe researchers found that after the onset of the pandemic children were more likely to have decreased balance ability when moving larger body fat percentage report spending more time looking at TV computers or smartphones and sleep lessLimitations on childrens opportunities for physical activity because of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus have had a significant impact on the development of physical function and lifestyle and may cause physical deterioration and health problems in the future warned ItoEspecially the risk of injury to children may increase because of a reduced dynamic balance function the researcher notedEven after the novel coronavirus becomes endemic it is important to consider the effects of social restrictions on the body composition of adolescents they addedAlso Read China cheers as government loosens antiCOVID rulesThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever