Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Physical Activity Habits, Musculoskeletal Pain, and Mood of Healthcare Workers

Objectives: Self-isolation seems to be the best way to slow down the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, but it may also have negative impact on physical and mental health. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in physical activity habits during the outbreak and also the impact of the pandemic on musculoskeletal pain and mood in correlation with physical activity in healthcare workers. Methods: This study is conducted through Google Forms web survey platform. A total of 310 hospital staffs completed the Google Forms questionnaire in 2 weeks during lockdown and curfew period in Istanbul. The questionnaire included 60 questions including demographic, occupational, COVID-19 exposure data, physical activity habits, musculoskeletal pain, and mood. Results: There was a significant difference between physical activity habits before and after the pandemic (p<0.001). Individuals engaged in regular physical activity (regardless of duration) had significantly higher happiness ratings (p=0.002). No statistically significant difference was found between the duration of physical activity and the musculoskeletal pain during the pandemic. Conclusion: Pandemic caused a decrease in physical activity, an unhappy and anxious mood, and an increase in musculoskeletal pain of healthcare workers. Participants who were doing regular physical activity were less unhappy, but no relationship between exercise and musculoskeletal pain was found which might be related to psychosocial state of the participants who worked under great stress with high effort during the pandemic.