Covid-19 and the impact on young athletes

Fitzgerald, Hugh T; Rubin, Sam T.; Fitzgerald, Dominic A.; Rubin, Bruce K.

doi:10.1016/j.prrv.2021.04.005

Cited by 31 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 38 publications

(19 reference statements)

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“…Several studies focused on the impact of this disease in athletes, who could be limited in their performance by prolonged respiratory symptoms or myocardial involvement. Return to sport activity after an adequate period of exercise restriction is another important aspect that has been focused by the previous literature [ 9 – 11 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Incidence and Clinical Relevance of COVID-19 in a Population of Young Competitive and Elite Football Players: A Retrospective Observational Study

Colangelo¹,

Volpe

Toso³

et al. 2022

Sports Med - Open

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Background The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically changed lifestyle worldwide, including sport. A comprehensive evaluation of the prevalence of cardiac involvement in COVID-19 is essential to finalize a safe protocol for resuming elite sport. The aim of this study is to evaluate incidence of cardiac involvement and COVID-19 impact on athletic performance. Materials and methods This retrospective observational study analysed the data collected from consecutive competitive athletes who performed medical-sports examinations at the J Medical Center from March 2020 to March 2021. All athletes periodically performed a molecular test using a nasopharyngeal swab to detect COVID-19 infection. Positive athletes performed laboratory (cardiac troponin T—cTnT) and instrumental (echocardiography, stress test, Holter ECG) investigations following recovery to identify any cardiac involvement. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in case of abnormal findings at first-level evaluation. Results Among 238 athletes (median age 20 years), 77 contracted COVID-19, mainly males (79%) with a median age of 16 years. Fifty-one athletes (66%) presented mild symptoms, and none required hospitalization. Evaluation for resuming sport was performed after a median of 30 days from the first positive test. Abnormal findings were obtained in 13 cases (5 athletes [6%] with elevated cTnT values; 13 athletes [17%] with arrhythmias on Holter ECG and/or during stress test; 2 athletes [3%] anomalies at echocardiography). Cardiac MRI discovered abnormalities in 9 cases, but none of these was clearly related to COVID-19 and none fulfilled acute myocarditis criteria. No negative impact on athletic performance was observed, and none of the athletes developed persistent COVID-related symptoms. Conclusions Our registry confirms the predominantly self-limiting illness in young athlete population. The incidence of clear COVID-19-related structural myocardial injury was very low, but transient exertional ventricular arrhythmias or pericardial effusion was observed without significant impact on athletic performance. Implemented screening for return to activity is likely reasonable only in moderate-to-severe symptomatic athletes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Incidence and Clinical Relevance of COVID-19 in a Population of Young Competitive and Elite Football Players: A Retrospective Observational Study

Colangelo¹,

Volpe

Toso³

et al. 2022

Sports Med - Open

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“…It is worth noting that in Italy, high-level athletes and horse owners have been allowed to resume training after eight weeks of lockdown, while recreational athletes were kept from sport activities for four weeks longer. This led to concerns about the impact of detraining on young athletes’ health, performance, and injury risk at the resumption of regular physical activity [ 18 , 19 , 20 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Puberal and Adolescent Horse Riders’ Fitness during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Effects of Training Restrictions on Health-Related and Functional Motor Abilities

Demarie

Chirico

Bratta

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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The aim of the study was to analyse the fitness level of young horse riders before and after 12 weeks of training restrictions instituted due to the COVID-19 emergency. Anthropometrical measure assessment and an eight-items fitness test battery were administered to 61 puberal and adolescent female amateur horse riders. Subjects were evaluated within 3 weeks before (pre-tests) the period of training restrictions and on the first day of normal training after it (post-tests). Post-test results showed significant increases in body weight (Z: −1.732; p value: 0.001; ES: −0.157) and BMI (F: 9.918; p value: 0.003; ES: 0.146), whilst the performance in hand grip and abdominal strength, hip mobility, and 10 × 5 m Shuttle and Cooper 12 min tests’ outcomes significantly decreased (F: 29.779; p value: 0.001 F: 29.779; p value: 0.001 F: 29.779; p value: 0.001 F: 29.779; p value: 0.001 F: 29.779; p value: 0.001, respectively). Correlation analysis revealed that riders’ experience was significantly correlated with hand grip (p < 0.01), leg strength (p < 0.01), hip mobility (p < 0.05), and 5 × 10 m Shuttle (p < 0.01) and the Cooper 12 min (p < 0.01) test results. It could be suggested that equestrian activities could produce a higher fitness level in puberal and adolescent riders, whilst home-based, unsupervised, and unattentively planned training during the twelve weeks of training restrictions might be insufficient to maintain it.

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“…For adolescents involved in organised sports, emotional struggles were commonly reported, especially as the competitive season came to a sudden halt or the sensation of loneliness was felt [ 19 ]. There were further concerns that adolescents’ physical, mental and social health would suffer from a lack of regular participation [ 20 ]. Fast solutions were found, when sport coaches and their athletes would connect remotely to continue with training during lockdown [ 21 ], although it remains uncertain the effect on overall PA.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Finnish late adolescents’ physical activity during COVID-19 spring 2020 lockdown

Koski

Lyyra

et al. 2021

BMC Public Health

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Background Physical activity (PA) is recognised as one of the leading and effective strategies to prevent non-communicable diseases that boosts the immune system to fight against diseases. Closures of schools, sport clubs and facilities because of COVID-19 reduced the opportunities to participate in PA. We aimed to examine physical activity levels of late adolescents, the contexts to be physical active and its changes during the spring 2020 lockdown. Methods A national representative sample of late adolescents in general upper secondary school (n = 2408, females = 64%, mean age = 17.2y, SD = 0.63) completed self-report online surveys on PA behaviours between March and June 2020. Multinominal logistic regression analyses were performed to identify correlates with PA, and decision tree analyses to ascertain the perceived changes on PA during lockdown based on sport club aspirations and levels of PA. Results Among the late adolescents, the distribution of PA frequency was 23% (0-2 days/week), 35% (3-4 days/week), 30% (5–6 days/week) and 12% (7 days/week), and differences between males and females were not statistically significant. Participation in both indoor and outdoor PA were 50 times more likely to report daily PA (OR = 54.28, CI = 15.16–194.37) than non-participation. A quarter of late adolescents were not part of a sports club, yet their PA levels increased. Although sports club members generally perceived they did less PA during lockdown, over a third of sport club members with competitive aspirations reported daily PA. Conclusions Overall, most late adolescents reported their PA levels decreased during lockdown. Findings from this study continue to demonstrate factors associated with PA in the context of the COVID-19 lockdown.

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Covid-19 and the impact on young athletes

Cited by 31 publications

References 38 publications

Incidence and Clinical Relevance of COVID-19 in a Population of Young Competitive and Elite Football Players: A Retrospective Observational Study

Incidence and Clinical Relevance of COVID-19 in a Population of Young Competitive and Elite Football Players: A Retrospective Observational Study

Puberal and Adolescent Horse Riders’ Fitness during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Effects of Training Restrictions on Health-Related and Functional Motor Abilities

Finnish late adolescents’ physical activity during COVID-19 spring 2020 lockdown

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