Adverse Collateral Effects of COVID-19 Public Health Restrictions on Physical Fitness and Cognitive Performance in Primary School Children.

Camille Chambonnière,Bruno Pereira,Martine Duclos,Pauline Genin,Julie Siroux,Terry Guirado,Line Bonjean,Alicia Fillon,Mélina Bailly,Nicole Fearnbach,Audrey Boscaro,Léna Pelissier,David Thivel

doi:10.3390/ijerph182111099

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the COVID-19-related confinement and social restrictions affected the levels of physical fitness and academic achievement in primary school French children. A total of 206 primary school children (106 before confinements and 100 after restrictions) completed a test battery evaluating their anthropometric characteristics, body compositions, activity preferences, cognitive performances and physical fitness. The performance of the Standing Long Jump was better at T0 (169.9 ± 142.5 cm) compared to T1 (135.2 ± 31.4 cm) (p = 0.0367), and the Medicine Ball Throw performance declined from T0 to T1 (297.3 ± 81.1 cm vs. 249 ± 52 cm; p < 0.0001). Motor skills (26.9 ± 6.2 s vs. 30.9 ± 5.4 s; p < 0.0001), the shuttle-run test (stages completed), Maximal Aerobic Speed, and the estimated VO2max were lower at T1 compared to T0 (p < 0.0001). Executive functioning was found to be greater at T0 compared to T1 (p < 0.0001). Explicit liking or wanting for sedentary or physical activities did not change between T0 and T1. Both overall physical fitness and cognitive performance drastically declined among primary school French children with the COVID-19-related public health restrictions, which reinforces the need to urgently develop preventive strategies in anticipation of further mitigation measures.

Highlights

After its appearance in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, the worldwide transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19) led to an unprecedented public health crisis, leading the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declaring a global pandemic on 11 March 2020
The aim of the present study is to evaluate whether the COVID19-related confinement and social restrictions affected the levels of physical fitness and academic achievement in primary school French children
Regarding physical fitness in the upper limbs, handgrip strength did not differ over time, but Medicine Ball Throw performance declined from taken in February 2020 (T0) to T1 (297.3 ± 81.1 cm vs. 249 ± 52 cm; p < 0.0001)

Summary

Introduction

After its appearance in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, the worldwide transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19) led to an unprecedented public health crisis, leading the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declaring a global pandemic on 11 March 2020. In the span of about 7 days, the progression of the virus led to global school closures in order to reduce the amount of social contact between students. 850 million children and adolescents were subjected to stay-at-home orders and engaged.

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