When lockdown hit and we were limited to one outing a day for either essential needs or exercise, the message was heard loud and clear by many.

Walking shoes were bought, bikes that were collecting dust in garages or acting as clothes horses in spare rooms were ridden once again and running shoes lost in cupboards under stairs were retrieved and relaced.

The country was becoming active.

Moving more

The data backs it up. Fitbit reviewed their stats from March and April and found that despite the daily number of steps going down - due to fewer people walking around offices or commuting - 42 per cent of people increased their active minutes.

They reasoned that people had moved from incidental steps throughout the day and instead chose more vigorous activities during the “once a day” exercise rule.

John Wright of Bradford Royal Infirmary said that during the pandemic there was a marked reduction in incoming cardiac problems such as heart attacks and strokes.

It could be argued that people feared hospitals because of the risk of infection, but it could also be that cardiovascular health was improving.

Mental good

It is not only people’s physical health that has benefited from this marked increase in exercise. Millions of pounds have been raised for charity through people doing remarkable things related to fitness and activity.

Captain Sir Tom Moore raised more than £32 million for the NHS, while 10-year-old Ethan Beardow, who has cerebral palsy, raised more than £68,000 for The Care Workers’ Charity by walking 100 laps of the Etihad Stadium.

And in general, of course, exercise is a well-known mood improver - something that is more important than ever in these tough times.

And all this before mentioning Joe Wicks, otherwise known as The Body Coach, whose 9am “PE With Joe” lessons on YouTube average more than 300,000 viewers a day.

Keeping it physical

As such, when schools welcome back their students, whether that’s in June or September, they have a duty to continue this love of exercise.

It would be so easy for schools to disregard PE when students return and instead focus on core subjects such as English, maths and science.

However, schools should consider using what society has started and develop the use of physical activity to enhance students’ wellbeing and physical health.

Examples include dedicating at least half an hour at the start of every day for physical exercise, or extending breaktimes by 10 minutes every other day to incorporate some exercises from Joe Wicks.

With sports such as rugby, football and hockey not possible in the immediate future owing to the social distancing and safety guidelines, new forms of exercise that mimic Joe Wicks’ lessons may have to become the norm in PE.

Many schools have also introduced a Morning Mile in which students can choose to walk or run a mile around the school grounds. This would be a fantastic way of continuing the daily exercise regime that so many have been used to during lockdown.

The importance of PE

Children have grown to accept new routines and, more importantly, there is a sense of renewed importance among society for PE and physical activity - something PE teachers have been striving for.

Schools will be under immense pressure when they reopen and children may well find it hard, too.

We should use the love of exercise and activity that lockdown has given us to balance this pressure with activities that are fun, healthy and good for all of us.

Jack Wildsmith is a secondary-school-trained PE teacher currently working as a PE and games teacher in an independent junior school in Leicestershire. He tweets @jwildsmithPE