The effectiveness of the ‘Move ASAP’ online exercise intervention during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: A focus on South African data from the multi-centre randomised controlled trial

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic impacted health and well-being globally. South Africa, like other countries, had implemented movement restrictions starting from March 2020. These restrictions, as anticipated, decreased exercise uptake and consequently, physical activity (PA) levels. The ‘Move ASAP’ (Activity and health during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic) study was a global multicentred randomised controlled trial that evaluated the effectiveness of an 8-week trial (4 weeks of active intervention and 4 weeks of recorded sessions), with virtual exercise sessions provided by a professional fitness trainer. This report focuses on the findings of the trial in a South African context, about PA and exercise motivation before and after the 4-week active intervention. Moderate PA (MPA) and vigorous PA (VPA) were measured using the Nordic Physical Activity Questionnaire Short (NPAQ-Short) and the Self-Concordance Scale (SKK) was administered to determine exercise motivation. Results revealed decreases of 32.6% and 16.1% in MPA for the intervention (IG) and control (CG) groups, respectively. Between-group differences in MPA were not statistically significant (p=0.120). A 42.1% decrease in VPA in the IG and a threefold increase in VPA in the CG was noted (p=0.001). SKK scores increased by 13.1% (IG) and 16.9% (CG). Notably, a 52.1% dropout rate was recorded (IG: 55.3%; CG: 44.7%). Decreased PA levels in IG and CG may have been associated with the high dropout rates and the limited consideration of South African context-specific challenges. Online PA programmes need to be formulated with specific contexts and population nuances in mind. This is particularly relevant amid the backdrop of possible future pandemics or other emergencies.