Discursos de instituições de saúde brasileiras sobre atividade física no início da pandemia de COVID-19

Aim: Analyze the discourses produced by health institutions regarding physical activity at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic (March and April) in Brazil. Methods: documental analysis using the websites of health institutions. The theoretical-methodological approach was inspired by Foucault’s studies based on the intertwined notion of discourse and its impact on the actions of the government. Results: We compiled 17 communications in total, three from government institutions, nine from medical societies, and five from the physical education area. The biological perspective prevailed and first communicated about personal hygiene and equipment, still referring to closed places and then about physical activity restriction in such places, indicating the home for the practices. Conclusion: There was a predominance of physical activity in its biological aspect, especially in immunological function. We have also problematized the discourses based on the concepts of the government in respect to actions in which individuals and families were encouraged to practice physical activity at home, without the guarantee of instrumentalization and access to such knowledge and professionals.