Evaluation of COVID-19 Restrictions on Distance Runners' Training Habits Using Wearable Trackers
The COVID-19 pandemic caused widespread disruption to many individuals' lifestyles. Social distancing restrictions implemented during this global pandemic may bring potential impact on physical activity habits of the general population. However, running is one of the most popular forms of physi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-01-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2021.812214/full |
| _version_ | 1818969173662892032 |
|---|---|
| author | Zoe Y. S. Chan Zoe Y. S. Chan Rhys Peeters Gladys Cheing Reed Ferber Roy T. H. Cheung |
| author_facet | Zoe Y. S. Chan Zoe Y. S. Chan Rhys Peeters Gladys Cheing Reed Ferber Roy T. H. Cheung |
| author_sort | Zoe Y. S. Chan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The COVID-19 pandemic caused widespread disruption to many individuals' lifestyles. Social distancing restrictions implemented during this global pandemic may bring potential impact on physical activity habits of the general population. However, running is one of the most popular forms of physical activity worldwide and one in which it could be maintained even during most COVID-19 restrictions. We aimed to determine the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on runners' training habits through analyzing the training records obtained from their GPS enabled wearable trackers. Retrospective and prospective data were collected from an online database (https://wetrac.ucalgary.ca). Runners' training habits, including frequency, intensity and duration of training, weekly mileage and running locations were analyzed and compared 9 months before and after the start of COVID-19 restrictions in March 2020. We found that runners ran 3 km per week more (p = 0.05, Cohen's d = 0.12) after the start of COVID-19 restrictions, and added 0.3 training sessions per week (p = 0.03, Cohen's d = 0.14). Moreover, runners ran an additional 0.4 sessions outdoors (p < 0.01, Cohen's d = 0.21) but there was no significant change in the intensity or duration of training sessions. Our findings suggested that runners adopted slightly different training regimen as a result of COVID-19 restrictions. Our results described the collective changes, irrespective of differences in response measures adopted by various countries or cities during the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T14:16:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4e61b73202174921bb49e59f6e7130aa |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2624-9367 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T14:16:23Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
| spelling | doaj.art-4e61b73202174921bb49e59f6e7130aa2022-12-21T19:38:01ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sports and Active Living2624-93672022-01-01310.3389/fspor.2021.812214812214Evaluation of COVID-19 Restrictions on Distance Runners' Training Habits Using Wearable TrackersZoe Y. S. Chan0Zoe Y. S. Chan1Rhys Peeters2Gladys Cheing3Reed Ferber4Roy T. H. Cheung5Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, CanadaDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaSchool of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, AustraliaDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaFaculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, CanadaSchool of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, AustraliaThe COVID-19 pandemic caused widespread disruption to many individuals' lifestyles. Social distancing restrictions implemented during this global pandemic may bring potential impact on physical activity habits of the general population. However, running is one of the most popular forms of physical activity worldwide and one in which it could be maintained even during most COVID-19 restrictions. We aimed to determine the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on runners' training habits through analyzing the training records obtained from their GPS enabled wearable trackers. Retrospective and prospective data were collected from an online database (https://wetrac.ucalgary.ca). Runners' training habits, including frequency, intensity and duration of training, weekly mileage and running locations were analyzed and compared 9 months before and after the start of COVID-19 restrictions in March 2020. We found that runners ran 3 km per week more (p = 0.05, Cohen's d = 0.12) after the start of COVID-19 restrictions, and added 0.3 training sessions per week (p = 0.03, Cohen's d = 0.14). Moreover, runners ran an additional 0.4 sessions outdoors (p < 0.01, Cohen's d = 0.21) but there was no significant change in the intensity or duration of training sessions. Our findings suggested that runners adopted slightly different training regimen as a result of COVID-19 restrictions. Our results described the collective changes, irrespective of differences in response measures adopted by various countries or cities during the COVID-19 pandemic.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2021.812214/fullwearablesactivity monitoringcoronavirustraining intensitytraining frequency |
| spellingShingle | Zoe Y. S. Chan Zoe Y. S. Chan Rhys Peeters Gladys Cheing Reed Ferber Roy T. H. Cheung Evaluation of COVID-19 Restrictions on Distance Runners' Training Habits Using Wearable Trackers Frontiers in Sports and Active Living wearables activity monitoring coronavirus training intensity training frequency |
| title | Evaluation of COVID-19 Restrictions on Distance Runners' Training Habits Using Wearable Trackers |
| title_full | Evaluation of COVID-19 Restrictions on Distance Runners' Training Habits Using Wearable Trackers |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of COVID-19 Restrictions on Distance Runners' Training Habits Using Wearable Trackers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of COVID-19 Restrictions on Distance Runners' Training Habits Using Wearable Trackers |
| title_short | Evaluation of COVID-19 Restrictions on Distance Runners' Training Habits Using Wearable Trackers |
| title_sort | evaluation of covid 19 restrictions on distance runners training habits using wearable trackers |
| topic | wearables activity monitoring coronavirus training intensity training frequency |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2021.812214/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zoeyschan evaluationofcovid19restrictionsondistancerunnerstraininghabitsusingwearabletrackers AT zoeyschan evaluationofcovid19restrictionsondistancerunnerstraininghabitsusingwearabletrackers AT rhyspeeters evaluationofcovid19restrictionsondistancerunnerstraininghabitsusingwearabletrackers AT gladyscheing evaluationofcovid19restrictionsondistancerunnerstraininghabitsusingwearabletrackers AT reedferber evaluationofcovid19restrictionsondistancerunnerstraininghabitsusingwearabletrackers AT roythcheung evaluationofcovid19restrictionsondistancerunnerstraininghabitsusingwearabletrackers |