Implications of COVID-19 for resumption of sport in South Africa: A South African Sports Medicine Association (SASMA) position statement – Part 2

Abstract


 
 
 
 The lockdown regulations due to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) that broke out towards the end of 2019 and continued to spread throughout most countries in the world had a negative effect on the sporting community. The South African government eased the lockdown rules to Level 1 from 21 September 2020. In Part 2 of this Position Statement of the South African Sports Medicine Association (SASMA), the authors address the position regarding the safe return to sports for athletes who were infected by the virus. An update on clinical manifestations and multi-organ involvement, testing for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), prolonged positive real time polymerase chain reaction (RT- PCR) and the role of quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in informing return to sports, grading of disease severity, individualised management of infected athletes and graduated return to play guidelines (GRTP) is provided. The authors also share thoughts on athletes with disabilities, immunisation, the using of masks during exercise and utilising biologically safe environments (BSE). Finally the SASMA Guidelines for Safe RTP in Level 1 lockdown during SARS-Cov-2 are introduced.
 
 
 

Are Football Players More Prone to Muscle Injury after COVID-19 Infection? The “Italian Injury Study” during the Serie a Championship

“…This infection seems to influence muscular cell activity by a direct mechanism, with the virus binding to the ACE2 receptor on the skeletal muscle cell surface, and by an indirect mechanism named “cytokine storm”, a deregulated release of numerous cytokines by the immune system after a lung infection [ 47 ]. The process triggered by the virus could induce muscle fiber proteolysis, promoting a decrease in protein synthesis, interfering in the myogenic process, and disrupting the body’s homeostasis [ 66 , 67 ].…”