ABSTRACT
The main goal of this research was to determine the difference in the level of physical activity (PA) during the lockdown due to the COVID–19 pandemic, compared to the usual level of PA, in young adults-Kinesiology students. We included 222 participants from UNIZG and BSU. The total level of PA was assessed by an IPAQ SF questionnaire. The data, which were collected and processed by IPAQ SF, were reported as comparisons of median values and interquartile ranges. The analysis of IPAQ SF completed during the COVID–19 lockdown and the special government rules shows that UNIZG students' TOTAL PA MET-minutes/week median was 4259.00, while the TOTAL PA MET-minutes/week median for BSU students was 1805.00. After the lockdown, UNIZG students' TOTAL PA MET-minutes/week median was 5850.00, while the TOTAL PA MET-minutes/week median for BSU students was 2880.00. Our results show a remarkably higher level of PA after the lockdown than during the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic in both groups. Additionally, certain differences between the groups were noticed. More specifically, the results present higher values of PA for UNIZG students in comparison to BSU students, regardless of the time during or after the lockdown. This study observed the level of PA in Kinesiology students, who are presumably a more active population compared to the general population. The results suggest a much lower level of PA during the lockdown due to the COVID–19 pandemic, and we assume the drop in the PA level in the general population to be even greater. Although the short-and long-term effects of lockdown weren't observed and require special attention, we believe there is an urgent need to create and implement exercise-based programmes on a national basis all around the world in order to increase the level of PA after lockdown for the general population. © 2020, Drustvo Pedagoga Tjelesne i Zdravstvene Kulture. All rights reserved.