Effect of a home-based exercise training program on anthropometric characteristics and exercise performance during Covid-19 quarantine in young high-level kayak athletes

Abstract

Purpose The Covid-19 restriction exposed most athletes to insufficient training stimuli leading to detraining. This study investigated whether a home-based exercise training program could preserve body composition and exercise performance in young high-level kayak athletes during Covid-19 restriction. Methods Seventeen healthy young high-level kayak athletes (10 males and 7 females), aged 14.7 ± 1 yrs, participated in this study. A 7-week home-based training program was followed during Covid-19 restriction. Baseline measurements were assessed 4 weeks before Covid-19 pandemic and ended on 4 May 2020. Body composition, flexibility, isometric muscle trunk strength (Biodex), anaerobic power (30-s all-out trial), and aerobic capacity (4-min maximal test) were evaluated. Personal daily loads and wellness details were collected with AthleteMonitoring.com software. Results Home-based exercise training program was effective to improve flexibility (9.20 ± 2.85%) and lean body mass (3.96 ± 0.89%), to maintain muscle strength, anaerobic power, body mass, and body fat percentage but insufficient to maintain aerobic capacity (− 8.96 ± 2.49%). Conclusion The findings of the present study potentially highlight the importance of the implementation of such a program to minimize the detraining effect on young athletes during periods of movement restriction caused by pandemics.

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

“…The COVID-19 lockdown resulted in the suspension of sports and recreational activities for many weeks, which led to the atrophy and diminishing functionality of muscles, especially in untrained older adults [46]. However, BMI and body fat percentage did not change in young kayak athletes who performed regular aerobic and strength training at home during a seven-week lockdown [47]. The pandemic had no effect on the body composition of elite football players who trained at home [48].…”

The Effect of an 8-Week Online High-Intensity Interval Training Program on Body Composition and Performance in Thai Professional Football Players During the Covid-19 Epidemic

“…The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has presented significant challenges in managing various aspects of human life, including physical activities worldwide. Among the strategies employed to control the spread of COVID-19, social distancing measures have been widely implemented (Wang et al, 2020;Tsolakis et al, 2023). Unfortunately, these measures have disrupted the routines of athletes, affecting their training, skill development, and competitive opportunities (Fitzgerald et al, 2021).…”

“…Football, being an intermittent sport involving a variety of high-intensity movements such as rapid changes in direction, sprinting, and jumping, has been particularly affected by the off-season period resulting from COVID-19 lockdowns (Radzimiński et al, 2021). Previous studies have also highlighted the negative impact of home isolation during the pandemic on athletes' aerobic capacity, muscle strength, muscle mass, body fat, and exercise performance (Tsolakis et al, 2023;Parpa & Michaelides, 2021). In this context, highintensity interval training (HIIT), characterized by brief intervals of vigorous activity combined with periods of low activity or rest, has emerged as a valuable tool for enhancing health and performance across diverse populations.…”