Abstract
Simple SummaryIn 2020, the first Italian soccer league (Serie A) was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, a detraining process was triggered in soccer players, leading coaches and sports scientists to implement alternative training strategies to prevent a remodeling in body composition. This study tested the hypothesis that male elite soccer players, when confined to their home during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, will display unfavorable trends in bioelectrical and body composition parameters. The results of the present study showed that reduction in phase angle and muscle mass occurred in soccer players during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic lockdown. Recognizing these adverse effects of a detraining period is critical in avoiding adverse effects on body composition in soccer players. In addition, the bioelectrical phase angle has been identified as a valid predictor of muscle mass changes during the competitive soccer season. Considerably, the phase angle represents a parameter that can be measured directly through bioelectrical impedance analysis, and it is independent of predictive equations such as those that quantify muscle mass. The present study compared changes in body composition during the COVID-19-associated lockdown with the same period of the following season in elite soccer players. Fifteen elite male soccer players (30.5 ± 3.6 years.) underwent a bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) before (end of February) and after (end of May) the lockdown, which occurred during the 2019/2020 season, and at the same period during the following competitive season in 2020/2021, when restrictions were lifted. Fat and muscle mass were estimated using predictive equations, while phase angle (PhA) and bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) patterns were directly measured. After lockdown, fat mass remained unchanged (p > 0.05), while muscle mass (95%CI = −1.12/−0.64; ES = −2.04) and PhA (95%CI = 0.51/−0.24, ES = −1.56) decreased. A rightward displacement of the BIVA vector was also found (p < 0.001, ES = 1.50). After the same period during the regular season, FM% and muscle mass did not change (p > 0.05), while the PhA increased (95%CI = 0.01/0.22; ES = 0.63). A leftward vector displacement (p < 0.001, ES = 1.05) was also observed. The changes in muscle mass correlated with changes in PhA (“lockdown” season 2019/2020: ß = −1.128, p = 0.011; “regular” season 2020/21: ß = 1.963, p = 0.011). In conclusion, coaches and strength conditioners should monitor muscle mass in soccer players during detraining periods as this parameter appears to be mainly affected by changes in training plans.
Highlights
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had far-reaching social and health implications affecting the worldwide population, including athletes [1]
DiscTuhsesiaoimn of the present study was to examine whether or not bioelectrical fat mass (FM)%, muscle masTsh, eanadimPhoAf twheerpe raefsfeencttedstudduyrinwgatshteoCeOxaVmIDin-1e9wlohcekthdeorwonrinnoSterbiieoeAlescotrciccearl pFlMay%er,s. mTuhseclme aminasfisn, danindgsPhinAdiwcaetreedatfhfaect t(ei)dFdMu%rinwgatshneoCt OafVfeIcDte-1d9dluorcikndgohwonmiencSoenrfiieneAmseonctcberut pldaeycerresa.seTshien mmuaisnclefimndaisnsgws eirnedoibcasteerdvedthdaturii)ngFMth%e quwaarsanntionte apfefericotded;uaridnegcrheaosmeein confinement but decreases in muscle mass were observed during the quarantine period; ii) a decrease in phase angle (PhA) was found after the quarantine period, while an increase occurred when the same participants were tested during the successive regular season
During the lockdown period experienced in the 2019/2020 season, elite soccer players showed no change in FM%, while muscle mass decreased along with PhA
Summary
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had far-reaching social and health implications affecting the worldwide population, including athletes [1]. No further information on the effects of lockdown on body composition is available in soccer players This may be of interest, since changes in fat-free mass, which includes muscle mass and body fluids, could negatively affect tolerance to high training exposure, possibly increasing the risk of injury [7]. Muscle mass seems related to anaerobic performance in soccer players, given that its decrements correlated to decrements in sprinting and jumping capacity [8]. Monitoring these components of fat-free mass may be relevant
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