Body Composition Of NCAA Division I Football Players Pre And Post COVID-19 Quarantine

Abstract

Strength and conditioning is an essential aspect to athlete development. The COVID-19 pandemic forced many collegiate athletes to train at home, without access to strength and conditioning facilities. PURPOSE: To examine body composition of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I football players pre- and post-COVID-19 quarantine. METHODS: Body composition of 29 NCAA Division I football players (Age = 21.0 ± 10 yrs, Ht = 186.7 ± 5.6 cm, Wt = 110.5 ± 22.8 kg) were measured around the start of Spring season (March) and prior to pre-season training (June) following a minimum 2 h fast and having refrained from recent exercise. Whole body dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to determine regional (arms, legs, trunk) and total body fat mass (FM), lean mass (LM), and fat free mass (FFM). Fat-Free Mass Index (FFMI) was calculated (FFMI = [LM + Bone Mineral Content (BMC)]/Height2); participants were stratified by FFMI (Upper: >25 lbs/m2; n = 16, Lower: <25 lbs/m2, n = 13). Paired samples t-tests were used to evaluate the effect of pre vs. post-COVID quarantine on body composition. RESULTS: For the total sample, trunk LM (Mean Difference ± Standard Error: -0.96 ± 0.21 kg, p < 0.001), and trunk FFM (-0.98 ± 0.21 kg, p < 0.001) measures significantly increased from pre- to post-COVID quarantine. Legs FM was significantly decreased (0.46 ± 0.19 kg, p = 0.023) post-COVID-19. Players with a lower FFMI showed a significant decrease in legs FM (0.47 ± 0.17 kg, p = 0.016), trunk percent fat (1.15 ± 0.42%, p = 0.017), and trunk FM (0.55 ± 0.19 kg, p = 0.016). Players in the upper FFMI showed a significant increase in total LM (-0.96 ± 0.42 kg, p = 0.038), total FFM (-0.99 ± 0.43 kg, p = 0.036), and a decrease in arm FFM (0.49 ± 0.22 kg, p = 0.045). CONCLUSIONS: The collective improvement in trunk LM and FFM, as well as decreases in leg FM, suggest the limited access to weight room equipment did not have a detrimental effect on body composition. Upper body FFM was lost only in the more muscular cohort (FFMI <25 lbs/m2). Overall, virtual programming and nutritional support likely played an important role in the improvements and maintenance of body composition outcomes during quarantine.