Physical Capacity After SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Adolescent Male Soccer Players: A Three-Month Follow-Up Study

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Pediatric Infectious Diseases
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Adolescent athletes may experience mild SARS-CoV-2 symptoms, but mid-term physical performance effects are unclear.
• COVID-19 can alter physiological systems impacting strength, speed, and aerobic capacity, potentially persisting post-infection.
• Limited data exists on adolescent athlete recovery post-COVID-19, with return-to-play guidelines often based on adult data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on physical performance in adolescent male soccer players.
• To assess the recovery trajectory of physical performance over three months following COVID-19 infection in this population.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 120 male soccer players (12-16 years), divided into COVID-19 (RT-PCR/antigen positive) and non-COVID-19 (serology negative) groups.
• Weekly fitness tests included handgrip strength, 10m/30m sprints, bench press, and beep test.
• COVID-19 group analyzed at 1 month pre-infection, 1 month post-infection, and 3 months post-infection; statistical analysis included Friedman and Mann-Whitney U tests.

Main Results:

• Significant performance deterioration observed 1 month post-COVID-19 infection across all metrics (p < 0.001).
• Partial or full recovery noted at 3 months; bench press and 10m sprint returned to baseline.
• Handgrip strength, 30m sprint, and beep test scores remained significantly lower than pre-infection levels; non-COVID-19 group showed stable performance.

Conclusions:

• SARS-CoV-2 infection caused significant, primarily transient, impairments in strength, speed, and aerobic capacity in adolescent soccer players.
• Persistent deficits in grip strength and cardiovascular endurance were observed at 3 months post-infection.
• Neuromuscular and aerobic systems may require extended recovery periods in adolescents; individualized return-to-play protocols are crucial.