ABSTRACT
Background. As other indoor sports facilities, swimming pools were closed in Italy from March to May 2020 and from October 2020 to July 2021 due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic;access to these facilities was restricted to athletes of national relevance. This decision was based on "precautionary principles” and without evidence of a high risk of SARS-COV-2 circulation among swimming pools' attendants. The aim of this paper is to describe the pattern of SARS-COV-2 circulation among swimming athletes in Apulia (Southern Italy). Study design. The study aims to investigate the hypothesis that attending a pool increases the risk of SARSCOV-2 infection. The outcome measure is the incidence of SARS-COV-2 infection among swimming athletes compared with the general population. Methods. This is a retrospective cross-sectional study carried out in Apulia, Southern Italy. The study was performed through the analysis of both the database of the Italian Swimming Federation and the SARS-COV-2 infections in Apulia Region, from July 2020 to August 2021. Results. Among 2,939 federally licensed athletes, 221 had an history of SARS-COV-2 infection from July 2020 to August 2021, with an incidence of 75.2 /1,000. In the general Apulian population, during the same time span, the incidence of SARS-COV-2 infection was 67.3/1,000 and - considering the incidence rate ratio - there is no difference between the two populations (IRR=1.1;95% CI=0.9-1.3;p>0.05). Conclusions. The incidence of SARS-COV-2 infection in Apulian swimmers showed no significant differences with the general population. © Società Editrice Universo (SEU), Roma, Italy
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: As other indoor sports facilities, swimming pools were closed in Italy from March to May 2020 and from October 2020 to July 2021 due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic;access to these facilities was restricted to athletes of national relevance. This decision was based on "precautionary principles" and without evidence of a high risk of SARS-COV-2 circulation among swimming pools' attendants. The aim of this paper is to describe the pattern of SARS-COV-2 circulation among swimming athletes in Apulia (Southern Italy). STUDY DESIGN: The study aims to investigate the hypothesis that attending a pool increases the risk of SARSCOV- 2 infection. The outcome measure is the incidence of SARS-COV-2 infection among swimming athletes compared with the general population. METHODS: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study carried out in Apulia, Southern Italy. The study was performed through the analysis of both the database of the Italian Swimming Federation and the SARS-COV-2 infections in Apulia Region, from July 2020 to August 2021. RESULTS: Among 2,939 federally licensed athletes, 221 had an history of SARS-COV-2 infection from July 2020 to August 2021, with an incidence of 75.2 /1,000. In the general Apulian population, during the same time span, the incidence of SARS-COV-2 infection was 67.3/1,000 and - considering the incidence rate ratio - there is no difference between the two populations (IRR=1.1;95% CI=0.9-1.3;p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of SARS-COV-2 infection in Apulian swimmers showed no significant differences with the general population.
ABSTRACT
At the end of the period of home confinement due to Covid-19 lockdown, the 12-item Health Survey (SF-12) questionnaire was used to assess the quality of life. Participants also completed the Profile of Mood State (POMS) for the assessment of mood. Data were collected through an online form on a sample of 143 adults (71% aged 18-30, 12% 31-40, 11% 41-50 and 6% aged >50, 58% males and 42% females). Subjects were divided into 5 groups according to the corresponding training condition followed during the first lockdown. Training classes were carried out via online guided distance learning. 19 subjects (Group FT) received functional training classes as they did before the confinement. Group FTL (29 subjects) followed another functional training only during the lockdown. Group DT (46 subjects) continued a non-functional type training also during lockdown;group TL performed one training only during lockdown. Finally, group NT (25 subjects) received no training. Results from SF-12 showed no significant differences between groups. POMS result indicated that only the FT group had positive effects on anxiety and depression, whereas a functional training performed with a different program (FTL) resulted in no significant effects on anxiety compared to NA group.