The Influence of COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown on the Physical Performance of Professional Soccer Players: An Example of German and Polish Leagues

Radzimiński, Łukasz; Padrón-Cabo, Alexis; Konefał, Marek; Chmura, Paweł; Szwarc, Andrzej; Jastrzębski, Zbigniew

doi:10.3390/ijerph18168796

Cited by 22 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Many questions remain about how the virus affects the bodies of athletes, and emerging data regarding this issue can help us to paint a clearer picture of how to deal with the infection as efficiently as possible and to return the athlete to his or her regular training regimen with minimal risks to the athlete’s health. Previous studies have mainly focused on the performance of athletes after a quarantine period (lockdown) [ 13 , 14 ]. A study of the physical performance in the top German and Polish national soccer (football) leagues showed that after the quarantine period, there was a significant decline in both high-intensity running and distance covered per game in Polish league matches, while in Germany, no significant differences were found [ 14 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous studies have mainly focused on the performance of athletes after a quarantine period (lockdown) [ 13 , 14 ]. A study of the physical performance in the top German and Polish national soccer (football) leagues showed that after the quarantine period, there was a significant decline in both high-intensity running and distance covered per game in Polish league matches, while in Germany, no significant differences were found [ 14 ]. A similar study was conducted on a sample of matches in the highest soccer league in Spain, and significantly higher running variables values were observed in the pre-COVID period, while on the other hand, increased values of accelerations/min and decelerations/min were noted in the post-COVID period [ 13 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Performance of Professional Soccer Players before and after COVID-19 Infection; Observational Study with an Emphasis on Graduated Return to Play

Savičević

Nincevic

Veršić

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in sport has been the subject of numerous studies over the past two years. However, knowledge about the direct impact of COVID-19 infection on the performance of athletes is limited, and the importance of studies on this topic is crucial during the current pandemic era. This study aimed to evaluate the changes in the match running performance (MRP) of professional soccer players that occurred as a result of COVID-19 infection after fulfilling all of the prerequisites for a safe return to play (RTP). The participants were 47 professional soccer players from a team which competed in first Croatian division (21.6 years old on average) during the 2020/21 season. The total sample was divided into two subgroups based on the results of a PCR test for COVID-19, where 31 players tested positive (infected) and 16 tested negative. We observed the PCR test results (positive vs. negative PCR), the number of days needed to return to the team, number of days needed to RTP after quarantine and isolation, and MRP (10 variables measured by a global positioning system). The number of days where the infected players were not included in the team ranged from 7 to 51 (Median: 12). Significant pre- to post-COVID differences in MRP for infected players were only found for high-intensity accelerations and high-intensity decelerations (t-test = 2.11 and 2.13, respectively; p < 0.05, moderate effect size differences), with poorer performance in the post-COVID period. Since a decrease of the MRP as a result of COVID-19 infection was only noted in two variables, we can highlight appropriateness of the applied RTP. However, further adaptations and improvements of the RTP are needed with regard to high-intensity activities.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Performance of Professional Soccer Players before and after COVID-19 Infection; Observational Study with an Emphasis on Graduated Return to Play

Savičević

Nincevic

Veršić

et al. 2021

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Although many hypotheses have been proposed regarding the possible negative impacts the COVID-19 lockdown will have had on the physical performance of players once competition is restarted [3,4,21], recent studies have provided inconsistent findings. In brief, Radzimi ński et al recently reported that the physical performance in German Bundesliga was not affected by the COVID-19 lockdown, while on the other hand, Polish Ekstraklasa matches after the COVID-19 lockdown had a significantly shorter total and high-intensity running distance [22]. García-Aliaga et al compared the MRPs before and after the COVID-19 lockdown in Spain and found lower medium-speed running (14.1-21 km/h), high-speed running (21.1-24 km/h), and sprinting distances (>24 km/h) in matches after the COVID-19 lockdown.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…García-Aliaga et al compared the MRPs before and after the COVID-19 lockdown in Spain and found lower medium-speed running (14.1-21 km/h), high-speed running (21.1-24 km/h), and sprinting distances (>24 km/h) in matches after the COVID-19 lockdown. The authors suggested that such a difference could have been caused by different break lengths and different restrictions implemented in these countries during the pandemic lockdown [22].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of the COVID-19 Lockdown on the Position-Specific Match Running Performance of Professional Football Players; Preliminary Observational Study

Sekulić

Veršić

Decelis

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted professional football in the 2019/2020 season, and football experts anticipate that the consequences of lockdown measures will negatively affect the physical performance of players once competition restarts. This study aimed to evaluate position-specific match running performance (MRP) to determine the effect of COVID-19 lockdowns on the physical performance of professional football players. Players’ MRPs (n = 124) were observed in matches before and after the COVID-19 lockdown in the 2019/2020 season of the highest level of national competition in Croatia and were classified according to player position: central defenders (CD; n = 42), fullbacks (FB; n = 20), midfielders (MF; n = 46), and forwards (FW; n = 16). The MRPs were measured using Global Positioning System, and included the total distance covered, low-intensity running (≤14.3 km/h), running (14.4–19.7 km/h), high-intensity running (≥19.8 km/h), total accelerations (>0.5 m/s2), high-intensity accelerations (>3 m/s2), total decelerations (less than –0.5 m/s2), and high-intensity decelerations (less than –3 m/s2). The results indicated that, in matches after the COVID-19 lockdown, (i) CDs and FBs featured lower running and high-intensity running (t-value: from 2.05 to 3.51; all p < 0.05; moderate to large effect sizes), (ii) MFs covered a greater distance in low-intensity running and achieved a lower number of total accelerations, and total and high-intensity decelerations (t-value: from –3.54 to 2.46; all p < 0.05, moderate to large effect sizes), and (iii) FWs featured lower high-intensity running (t-value = 2.66, p = 0.02, large effect size). These findings demonstrate that the physical performances of football players from the Croatian first division significantly decreased in matches after the COVID-19 lockdown. A combination of inadequate adaptation to football-specific match demands and a crowded schedule after the competition was restarted most likely resulted in such an effect.

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“…The COVID-19 pandemic has had a disrupting effect on global society, including the suspension of league games, and various sports events (Radzimiński et al, 2021 ; Schumacher et al, 2021 ), such as the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2020 European Cup football (Grazioli et al, 2020 ). After 2 months of confinement, the German national football association recommended players to perform home-based training programs, followed by small-group training sessions (Meyer et al, 2021 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of COVID-19 on Physical Performance and Mental Health—A Retrospective Case Series of Belgian Male Professional Football Players

Wagemans

Catteeuw

Vandenhouten

et al. 2021

Front. Sports Act. Living

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Rationale: As every season, physical performance of players of Royal Antwerp FC's first team was regularly tested and mental well-being and mood were assessed during football season 2020–2021. Just like in the general population, several professional athletes were infected by SARS-CoV-2 during that season. COVID-19 is a complex disorder affecting multiple body systems, potentially damaging lungs, affecting the cardiovascular system or causing muscle weakness. Therefore, the impact of COVID-19 on performance was a major concern for the affected football players and their entourage.Objectives: To retrospectively examine the influence of COVID-19 on physical performance and mental health in professional football athletes during the season 2020–2021.Methods: Thirty-three professional athletes (age: 25.37 ± 4.11 years; height: 182.75 ± 7.62 cm; weight: 78.90 ± 8.97 kg) of a Belgian first division football club were assessed weekly during the 2020-2021 season. Weekly assessments comprised strength values of the hamstrings, hip abductors and hip adductors, jump performance, a modified Hooper questionnaire to assess mental status and nose swab PCR tests for COVID-19. Data analysis was performed from 2 weeks prior to COVID-19 contamination up to 8 weeks after the first positive test. Post-hoc Bonferroni correction was applied when performing statistical analysis.Results: Eleven players tested positive for COVID-19. Duration of contamination was 13 ± 7 days. There was no statistically significant difference before and after COVID-19 infection for jump performance, and adductor and abductor muscle strength (p > 0.05). Functional hamstring strength improved significantly 2 weeks (MD: 41.48; 95%CI: −3.79 to 86.75; p = 0.009) and 4 weeks (MD: 34.76; 95%CI: −8.91 to 78.42; p = 0.019) after COVID-19, whereas mood (MD: −0.60; 95%CI: −1.46 to 0.26; p = 0.041), stress levels (MD: −0.83; 95%CI: −1.85 to 0.20; p = 0.020) and total wellness (MD: −2.41; 95%CI: −5.25 to 0.43; p = 0.015) showed a significant reduction 8 weeks after confirmed COVID-19.Conclusion: Physical performance varied considerably across outcomes before and 8 weeks after COVID-19 contamination in a sample of first division football players. However, affected football players' overall well-being, stress levels and mood diminished after a positive COVID-19 test.

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The Influence of COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown on the Physical Performance of Professional Soccer Players: An Example of German and Polish Leagues

Cited by 22 publications

References 35 publications

Performance of Professional Soccer Players before and after COVID-19 Infection; Observational Study with an Emphasis on Graduated Return to Play

Performance of Professional Soccer Players before and after COVID-19 Infection; Observational Study with an Emphasis on Graduated Return to Play

The Effect of the COVID-19 Lockdown on the Position-Specific Match Running Performance of Professional Football Players; Preliminary Observational Study

The Impact of COVID-19 on Physical Performance and Mental Health—A Retrospective Case Series of Belgian Male Professional Football Players

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