Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Physical Function of Community-Dwelling People with Disabilities in Japan

Takayuki Kamimoto, Michiyuki Kawakami (), Towa Morita, Yuta Miyazaki, Nanako Hijikata, Tomonori Akimoto, Masahiro Tsujikawa, Kaoru Honaga, Kanjiro Suzuki, Kunitsugu Kondo and Tetsuya Tsuji
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Takayuki Kamimoto: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
Michiyuki Kawakami: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
Towa Morita: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tokyo Bay Rehabilitation Hospital, Chiba 275-0026, Japan
Yuta Miyazaki: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
Nanako Hijikata: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
Tomonori Akimoto: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
Masahiro Tsujikawa: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
Kaoru Honaga: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tokyo Bay Rehabilitation Hospital, Chiba 275-0026, Japan
Kanjiro Suzuki: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tokyo Bay Rehabilitation Hospital, Chiba 275-0026, Japan
Kunitsugu Kondo: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
Tetsuya Tsuji: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 19, 1-9

Abstract: In 2020, COVID-19 spread throughout the world, and international measures such as travel bans, quarantines, and increased social distancing were implemented. In Japan, the number of infected people increased, and a state of emergency was declared from 16 April to 25 May 2020. Such a change in physical activity could lead to a decline in physical function in people with disabilities. A retrospective study was conducted to determine the impact of the pandemic on the physical function of disabled persons living in the community. Data were collected at four points in time: two points before the declaration of the state of emergency was issued and two points after the declaration period had ended. Time series data of physical function at four points in time were compared for 241 people with disabilities. The mean age was 72.39 years; 157 had stroke, 59 musculoskeletal disease, and 26 other diseases. Overall, there was a long-term decrease in walking speed ( p < 0.001) and a worsening of the Timed Up-and-Go (TUG) score ( p < 0.001) after the period of the state of emergency. The TUG score worsened only in the group with a walking speed of 1.0 m/s or less before the state of emergency ( p = 0.064), suggesting that this group was more susceptible.

Keywords: rehabilitation; COVID-19; cerebrovascular disease; musculoskeletal disease (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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