Changes in training activity post COVID-19 infection in recreational runners and cyclists

Abstract

Background: Anecdotal evidence suggests that athletes struggle to return to exercise post COVID-19 infection. However, studies evaluating the effect of COVID-19 on athletes' exercise activity are limited.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were: (i) to describe the perceptions of recreational runners and cyclists recovering from COVID-19 on their training activity and general well-being, (ii) to compare device-measured training data in runners and cyclists pre- and post COVID-19, with non-infected controls that had a training interruption.

Methods: Participants who were recruited via social media completed an online questionnaire (n=61), including demographic, health and COVID-19 descriptive data. In a sub-sample, device-measured training data (heart rate, time, distance and speed, n=27) were obtained from GPS devices for four weeks before infection and on resumption of training. Similar data were collected for the control group (n=9) whose training had been interrupted but by factors excluding COVID-19.

Results: Most participants experienced a mild to moderate illness (91%) that was associated with a training interruption time of two-four weeks. Decreases in heart rate, relative exercise intensity, speed, time and distance were observed during the first week of returning to training for both groups, followed by an increase from Week two onwards.

Discussion: Results failed to support a 'COVID-19 effect' on exercise activity as reductions in training variables occurred in both the COVID-19 and control groups. A possible explanation for the reductions observed is a deliberate gradual return to training by athletes post-COVID-19.

Conclusion: More research is needed using device-measured training data prior to and post COVID-19 infection to better understand the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 virus on the exercise activity of athletes.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; coronavirus; physical activity; relative exercise intensity; training activity.

Fig. 1

Change in relative exercise intensity of COVID-19 and control groups four weeks pre interruption to four weeks after return to training post interruption; *statistical significant differences in relative exercise intensity between one week post return to training, and two, three and four weeks post return to training (p=0.03); TI: training interruption period; error bars 95% confidence interval.

Fig. 2

Change in average speed of COVID-19 and control groups four weeks pre-interruption to four weeks after return to training post interruption. TI: Training interruption period; error bars 95% confidence interval.

Fig. 3

Change in time trained of COVID-19 and control groups four weeks pre-interruption to four weeks after return to training post interruption; *statistical significant difference in time trained for the control group, between one week pre-training interruption and one week post return to training (p<0.001);**statistical significant difference in time trained between the two groups at one week pre-training interruption (p=0.002) TI: Training interruption period; error bars 95% confidence interval.

Fig. 4

Change in distance trained of COVID-19 and control groups four weeks pre-interruption to four weeks after return to training post interruption; *statistical significant difference in distance trained for the control group, between one week pre-training interruption and one week post return to training (p=0.002);**statistical significant difference in distance trained between the two groups at one week pre-training interruption (p=0.003) TI: Training interruption period; error bars 95% confidence interval.