Journal Article Epublish
PubMed: 37900375 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.46126
Impact of COVID-19 on Physical Fitness in Central Indian Athletes Aged 20-30 Years: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study.
Cureus 15(9):e46126
Authors: Nitin B Dhokane, Aman L Lonare, Narhari P Pophali, Jyotsana Bharshankar, Piyush Kherde, Shrikant S Karwate, Anup Kumar D Dhanvijay
Affiliations
- Physiology, Government Medical College, Sindhudurg, Sindhudurg, IND.
- Physiology, Government Medical College, Nagpur, Nagpur, IND.
- Physiology, Shri Vasantrao Naik Government Medical College, Yavatmal, Yavatmal, IND.
- Physiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Deoghar, Deoghar, IND.
Abstract
Background Physical fitness is of utmost importance to athletes as it ensures better performance in competitive sports. Athletes who contracted COVID-19 frequently experienced persistent symptoms for weeks or months afterward. Due to the direct effects of COVID-19 infection on pulmonary, cardiovascular, and neurological systems, combined with the negative effects of isolation and inactivity, it has been observed that physical fitness decreases in individuals. This study aimed to evaluate the physical fitness of young athletes in the age group of 20 to 30 years after mild-to-moderate COVID-19 infection and compare them with unaffected athletes of the same age group. Methodology A field-based, cross-sectional, comparative study was conducted from July 2022 to August 2022 in Nagpur, India. Physical fitness levels of 50 young athletes in the age group of 20-30 years who never got infected with COVID-19 were compared to 50 athletes with a recent history of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 infection using the Harvard step test, breath-holding test, and peak expiratory flow rate measurement. Participants were included based on COVID-19 diagnosis using standard procedures and confirmation of recovery through negative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction tests. Results Overall physical fitness of athletes who suffered from mild-to-moderate COVID-19 infection was significantly less than those who were not infected. Compared to their non-COVID-19 counterparts, the COVID-19-recovered athletes showed reduced physical fitness index (p < 0.0001 for males and p = 0.0003 for females), reduced peak expiratory flow rate (p < 0.0001 for males and p < 0.0001 for females), and reduced breath-holding time (p < 0.0001 for males and p < 0.0001 for females). Conclusions COVID-19 had a significant impact on various components of physical fitness which may potentially affect the athletic performance and overall well-being of young athletes.
MeSH
Pilot Projects, Pilots, Peak Expiratory Flow Rate, Physical Fitness, Aged, Covid-19, Athletes, Infections