Body Composition of Master Swimmers before and after the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study

Abstract

The long-term effect of physical activity on body composition in Master athletes is rarely presented in the literature. The aim of this study was to identify possible changes in body composition of Master swimmers over a period of 4 years, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, we wanted to discover if sarcopenia symptoms would occur in Master athletes during the analyzed period. The body compositions of one hundred and sixty-seven Master swimmers were assessed with the InBody 270 analyzer in 2018. In 2022, the measurements were repeated in forty-six men and fourteen women. The Muscle Mass Index and the Skeletal Muscle Index were calculated to identify sarcopenia-related changes in body composition. We surveyed participants to gather data on their training patterns and SARS-CoV-2 infection history. No significant changes in body composition parameters were noted in Master swimmers during the analysis period (p > 0.05). Sarcopenia risk was not identified in examined athletes, and sarcopenia indicators did not change markedly over the 4-year period (p > 0.05). Participants with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection did not differ from non-infected subjects in terms of body composition. Training cessation during the COVID-19 pandemic and SARS-CoV-2 infection did not induce long-term changes in body composition of Master swimmers. Life-long participation in swimming activities appears to delay negative changes in body composition, including sarcopenia symptoms.

The Effects of an Eight-Week Swimming Program on Body Composition and Assessment of Dietary Intake in Post-COVID-19 Patients

“…These findings apply to participants who had contracted COVID-19 and those who had not. Furthermore, a recent study revealed that middle-aged master swimmers did not experience any changes in body composition parameters even during a 4-year period involving multiple COVID-19 lockdowns [ 24 ]. Importantly, COVID-19 patients require a modified implementation program in many aspects.…”

“…Evidence suggests that a gradual, guided approach to exercise can be an integral component of rehabilitation for individuals experiencing lingering effects from the virus [ 22 , 23 ]. A recently published longitudinal study of master swimmers over four years, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, revealed that the body composition of master swimmers who swam before the COVID-19 pandemic did not change due to infection with the virus [ 24 ]. However, the open question is whether a structured swimming regimen affects the change (improvement) in body composition in post-COVID-19 patients who were previously included in a systematic swimming program.…”