Significant reduction of physical activity in patients with neuromuscular disease during COVID-19 pandemic: the long-term consequences of quarantine

Journal of Neurology

Fecha de publicación: 13 de Julio de 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-020-10064-6

Autores: Vincenzo Di Stefano, Giuseppe Battaglia, Valerio Giustino, Andrea Gagliardo, Michele D’Aleo, Ottavio Giannini, Antonio Palma & Filippo Brighina 

Background

Quarantine was the measure taken by governments to control the rapid spread of COVID-19. This restriction resulted in a sudden change in people’s lifestyle, leading to an increase in sedentary behavior and a related decrease in the practice of physical activity (PA). However, in neuromuscular diseases patients need to perform regular PA to counteract the negative consequences of the disease. Hence, the aim of this study was to estimate the levels of PA, measured as energy expenditure (MET–minute/week), among patients with neuromuscular disease (NMD) before and during the last week of quarantine.