Biological, Psychological, and Physical Performance Variations in Football Players during the COVID-19 Lockdown: A Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract

This prospective cohort study aimed to evaluate whether COVID-19 lockdown caused biological, psychological, and/or physical performance variations in footballers. We compared the 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 seasons evaluating the plasma volume, hematological parameters, iron/ferritin, creatine kinase, vitamin D, cortisol, testosterone, and physiological state of players of the Italian football major league (Serie A). Measurements were performed before the preparatory period (T0), at the beginning (T1) and in the middle (T2) of the championship, and in March (T3) and at the end of season (T4). The results showed that in the 2019/2020 season affected by the lockdown, the weight, BMI, and fat mass percentage were higher than in the previous season. Hematocrit, hemoglobin, red blood cells, and ferritin decreased during both seasons, more significantly than in the regular season. During both seasons, creatine kinase increased from T2 whilst iron concentrations decreased in T3. Testosterone increased in both seasons from T0 to T3 and returned to initial levels at T4; cortisol increased in T2 and T3 during the 2018/2019 season but not during the COVID-19 season. Physical performance tests revealed differences associated with lockdown. Thus, although from a medical point of view, none of the evaluated changes between the two seasons were clinically relevant, training at home during lockdown did not allow the players to maintain the jumping power levels typical of a competitive period.

Training load, sports performance, physical and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: A prospective cohort of Swiss elite athletes

“…Our results regarding the period around the first lockdown seem to be in line with several previous studies that found reduced (objective) sports performance [ 23 ], reduced training load [ 24 – 28 ], negative impact on general mental state [ 24 , 29 , 30 ], increased negative emotions [ 25 , 27 , 31 – 33 ], increased risk of adjustment disorder [ 34 ] during lockdown among elite athletes. However, one study found increased sleeping time [ 28 ] and several previous studies found increased symptoms of insomnia during lockdown among elite athletes [ 25 , 27 , 28 , 32 , 33 ], which we both did not find in our study.…”

Monitoring Psychometric States of Recovery to Improve Performance in Soccer Players: A Brief Review

“…Successful training must avoid the combination of excessive overload and inadequate recovery; otherwise, athletes can experience short-term decline in performance without severe physical and psychological symptoms or other lasting negative symptoms [ 21 , 62 , 63 , 64 ]. In fact, when athletes do not respect sufficiently the balance between training and recovery, an overreaching syndrome or nonfunctional overtraining can occur, with maladjustment not only of the player (such as fatigue, decline in performance, and mood disorders), but also of various biological factors such as neurochemical and hormonal regulation mechanisms [ 63 , 64 , 65 ].…”

Vitamin D Supplementation Has No Impact on Cardiorespiratory Fitness, but Improves Inflammatory Status in Vitamin D Deficient Young Men Engaged in Resistance Training

“…In our participants, a significant 22% decrease in serum ferritin levels occurred across the 12-week supplementation and RT period, but this was an overall change, not Vit-D supplementation-induced effect. Similarly, other studies have shown that ferritin levels decrease as training program or sports season progresses in male and female soldiers [49,65,66], overweight or obese girls [67] and elite male football players [68]. According to My et al [68], the decreases in ferritin levels with training load may reflect training tolerance of athletes.…”

“…Similarly, other studies have shown that ferritin levels decrease as training program or sports season progresses in male and female soldiers [49,65,66], overweight or obese girls [67] and elite male football players [68]. According to My et al [68], the decreases in ferritin levels with training load may reflect training tolerance of athletes.…”