Impact of SARS-CoV-2 on Aerobic and Anaerobic Capacity in Professional Ice Hockey Players
The result's identifiers
Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216208%3A11510%2F25%3A10498604" target="_blank" >RIV/00216208:11510/25:10498604 - isvavai.cz</a>
Result on the web
<a href="https://verso.is.cuni.cz/pub/verso.fpl?fname=obd_publikace_handle&handle=fQNwekbH9" target="_blank" >https://verso.is.cuni.cz/pub/verso.fpl?fname=obd_publikace_handle&handle=fQNwekbH9</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/jcm14103478" target="_blank" >10.3390/jcm14103478</a>
Alternative languages
Result language
angličtina
Original language name
Impact of SARS-CoV-2 on Aerobic and Anaerobic Capacity in Professional Ice Hockey Players
Original language description
Background/Objectives: COVID-19 poses significant physiological challenges for athletes, particularly those engaged in high-intensity intermittent sports such as ice hockey. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection-especially symptomatic cases-on aerobic and anaerobic performance in professional ice hockey players. Methods: Fifty athletes from the Polish Hockey League were assigned to three groups: control (CG, n = 13), asymptomatic COVID-19 (NSG, n = 28), and symptomatic COVID-19 with post-infection SpO(2) < 90% (WSG, n = 9). Each underwent assessments at three time points-pre-preparatory period 2020/2021, post-preparatory period 2020/2021, and pre-preparatory period 2021/2022. Aerobic capacity was measured via a progressive cycle ergometer test (VO(2)max, VO2 at lactate threshold [VO2Lt], minute ventilation [V'E], breathing frequency [BF], and lactate clearance rate [Delta La]), and anaerobic capacity via a 30 s Wingate test (relative mean power). Results: Compared with CG and NSG, symptomatic athletes exhibited significant post-infection declines in VO(2)max (48.2 +/- 2.9 vs. 56.2 +/- 6.2 and 54.6 +/- 3.9 mL/kg/min; p = 0.006, d = 1.56 vs. CG; p < 0.024, d = 1.79 vs. NSG) and VO2Lt (p < 0.05). Relative mean power also decreased in WSG (p < 0.05). In contrast, CG and NSG improved or maintained these metrics over the same period. Symptomatic players showed elevated BF post infection (p = 0.022, d = 1.72) and reduced V'E (p = 0.035; d = 0.83), while Delta La was markedly lower (p = 0.0004; d = 2.86). Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 infection, particularly symptomatic cases, can significantly impair both aerobic and anaerobic capacity in elite hockey players. Targeted recovery protocols are essential for restoring performance in affected athletes.
Czech name
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Czech description
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Classification
Type
J<sub>imp</sub> - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database
CEP classification
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OECD FORD branch
30306 - Sport and fitness sciences
Result continuities
Project
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Continuities
I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace
Others
Publication year
2025
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data specific for result type
Name of the periodical
Journal of Clinical Medicine
ISSN
2077-0383
e-ISSN
2077-0383
Volume of the periodical
14
Issue of the periodical within the volume
10
Country of publishing house
CH - SWITZERLAND
Number of pages
16
Pages from-to
3478
UT code for WoS article
001497514300001
EID of the result in the Scopus database
2-s2.0-105006710151