Impact of (long) COVID on athletes’ performance: a prospective study in elite football players 2023 Wezenbeek et al

Objectives
To investigate possible persistent performance deficits after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in elite athletes.

Methods
A prospective cohort study in three Belgian professional male football teams was performed during the 2020 − 2021 season. Participants were submitted to strength, jump, and sprint tests and an aerobic performance test (the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery test (YYIR)). These tests were repeated at fixed time intervals throughout the season. Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 infection was performed by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test before each official game.

Results
Of the 84 included participants, 22 were infected with SARS-CoV-2 during follow-up. At the first testing after infection (52.0 ± 11.2 days after positive PCR testing) significantly higher percentages of maximal heart rate (%HRmax) were seen – within the isolated group of infected players- during (p = .006) and after the YYIR (2 min after, p = .013), compared to pre-infection data. This increase in %HRmax was resolved at the second YYIR testing after infection (127.6 ± 33.1 days after positive PCR testing). Additionally, when comparing the first test after infection in formerly infected to non-infected athletes, significantly higher %HRmax were found during (p < .001) and after the YYIR test (p < .001),No significant deficits were found for the jump, muscular strength or sprint tests.

Conclusion
Aerobic performance seems compromised even weeks after infection. Simultaneously, anaerobic performance seemed to be spared. Because of the potential detrimental effects on the immune system, caution might be advised with high-intensity exposure until aerobic performance is restored.

KEY MESSAGES

1. Elite football players’ aerobic performance seems to be affected for weeks after they return to sports after a SARS-CoV-2 infection.
   
   
2. Similarly, anaerobic performance tests showed no discernible changes between both before and after SARS-CoV-2 infections.
   
   
3. Regular YYIR testing is recommended to monitor aerobic performance after SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Open access, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07853890.2023.2198776

 

Typical malingering elite footballers....

 

This is because they are like type A personalities with all these vigorous workouts they do all the time, being always on top of their game, competing constantly and just being elite athletes in general. And then they are suddenly ill a little bit, they cannot perform at the same high level all of a sudden and this destroys their mental health long-term. Thus their unrealistic expectations make them catastrophize and keep them ill. It is known!

 

They are obviously seeking the secondary benefits that come from potentially losing their extremely well paid jobs. I wonder if they have tried thinking positively about kale?

 

Newcastle Utd had at least 2 cases. The medical people at Newcastle must have an extensive collection of data.