Functional rehabilitation and barriers to physical activity after COVID-19: a randomized clinical trial

Abstract

The study aimed to analyze perceived barriers to physical activity during a multicomponent training pro- gram in adults and seniors post-COVID-19 infection. A randomized clinical trial was conducted with 40 participants (19 control group and 21 intervention group). Sociodemographic, health, and barriers to physical activity information were collected before, 12 and 24 weeks after the start of the intervention. The measure of barriers to physical activity was obtained through a valid scale composed of 16 items. Differences in barriers between groups and over time were analyzed using Generalized Estimating Equations, α = 0.05. The most frequently mentioned barriers at baseline by both groups were “Laziness, fatigue, or lack of enthusiasm” (71%), “Pain, injuries, or disability” (38%), and “Lack of motivation” (48%). The main analyses indicated that both groups had a reduction in the frequency of the barrier “Laziness, fatigue, or lack of enthusiasm” at week 12 (p = 0.003), but returned to initial values at week 24 (p = 0.441). The barrier “Because of the coronavirus epidemic” was reduced in week 12 (p = 0.704) and further reduced in week 24 (p = 0.158), with a similar pattern between groups. The key conclusion is that barriers to physical activity can be reduced through participation in supervised exercise programs and recommendations for physical activity.