Recommendations for Improving Physical Activity and Health-Related Physical Fitness Elements During Pandemic Periods

Abstract

Background: Covid-19 has turned into a great pandemic that surrounds the whole world and exposes individuals to a physically inactive state, and as a result, has many negative effects together. Aim: The purpose of this research is to investigate physical activity behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic process, and also to offer specific suggestions for improving the physical activity and health-related physical fitness of individuals. Methods: Our research is a review research in which many studies examining the changes in physical activity behaviors of people during the pandemic period are examined. Results: According to the research results; It was observed that individuals living in urban centers were less physically active than before the pandemic and their health-related physical fitness developed negatively during the pandemic process, while some individuals living in rural areas had an increase in their physical activity levels. It has been observed that physical activity levels have also decreased, especially since individuals living in urban life cannot reach many opportunities they have reached before due to the pandemic and have to stay at home due to the restrictions imposed by the governments. Conclusion: In our research, various suggestions were made for indoor and outdoor activities that can be done at home and in rural recreation areas in these and similar situations, and it was tried to help individuals to maintain the continuity of physical activity behaviors and to develop health-related physical fitness elements. Keywords: physical activity, fitness, health, pandemic