The impact of covid-19 lockdown on aerobic capacity in female soccer players

Abstract

Aim. The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in physical capacity caused by a 41-day significant reduction in training activity due to the COVID-19 lockdown. The 20 m shuttle run (Multistage Fitness Beep test) was used to determine physical capacity.Methods. The examinations were performed on 23 female soccer players aged 15 to 23 years. The inclusion criteria were sufficient training experience and participation in competitions at the level of the Central Junior League and the First Women’s League. On both dates of examinations, separated by a 41-day interval forced by the COVID-19 pandemic, maximal oxygen uptake was analyzed using an indirect method based on the Beep Test. The differences in VO2max on both dates for the combined groups were analyzed by Student’s t-test for dependent samples.Results. Calculations showed a highly significant reduction in VO2max (by 5.6 ml/kg/min). Furthermore, the absolute decrease in this variable was significantly related to baseline levels (r=0.760).Conclusions. The re-education of physical activity enforced by the 41-day lockdown resulted in a significant loss of aerobic capacity. A greater decrease in VO2max was observed in female athletes with higher baseline levels of aerobic capacity. It seems advisable to develop special training programs for individual implementation in case the group training is impossible.