Impact of (long) COVID on athletes' performance: a prospective study in elite football players.

ABSTRACT:

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 da

SUBMITTER: Wezenbeek E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10134946 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature