COVID-19 Lockdown: A Global Study Investigating the Effect of Athletes' Sport Classification and Sex on Training Practices.

PURPOSE: To investigate differences in athletes' knowledge, beliefs, and training practices during COVID-19 lockdowns with reference to sport classification and sex. This work extends an initial descriptive evaluation focusing on athlete classification. METHODS: Athletes (12,526; 66% male; 142 countries) completed an online survey (May-July 2020) assessing knowledge, beliefs, and practices toward training. Sports were classified as team sports (45%), endurance (20%), power/technical (10%), combat (9%), aquatic (6%), recreational (4%), racquet (3%), precision (2%), parasports (1%), and others (1%). Further analysis by sex was performed. RESULTS: During lockdown, athletes practiced body-weight-based exercises routinely (67% females and 64% males), ranging from 50% (precision) to 78% (parasports). More sport-specific technical skills were performed in combat, parasports, and precision (∼50%) than other sports (∼35%). Most athletes (range: 50% [parasports] to 75% [endurance]) performed cardiorespiratory training (trivial sex differences). Compared to prelockdown, perceived training intensity was reduced by 29% to 41%, depending on sport (largest decline: ∼38% in team sports, unaffected by sex). Some athletes (range: 7%-49%) maintained their training intensity for strength, endurance, speed, plyometric, change-of-direction, and technical training. Athletes who previously trained ≥5 sessions per week reduced their volume (range: 18%-28%) during lockdown. The proportion of athletes (81%) training ≥60 min/session reduced by 31% to 43% during lockdown. Males and females had comparable moderate levels of training knowledge (56% vs 58%) and beliefs/attitudes (54% vs 56%). CONCLUSIONS: Changes in athletes' training practices were sport-specific, with few or no sex differences. Team-based sports were generally more susceptible to changes than individual sports. Policy makers should provide athletes with specific training arrangements and educational resources to facilitate remote and/or home-based training during lockdown-type events.

Training During the COVID-19 Lockdown: Knowledge, Beliefs, and Practices of 12,526 Athletes from 142 Countries and Six Continents.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to explore the training-related knowledge, beliefs, and practices of athletes and the influence of lockdowns in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). METHODS: Athletes (n = 12,526, comprising 13% world class, 21% international, 36% national, 24% state, and 6% recreational) completed an online survey that was available from 17 May to 5 July 2020 and explored their training behaviors (training knowledge, beliefs/attitudes, and practices), including specific questions on their training intensity, frequency, and session duration before and during lockdown (March-June 2020). RESULTS: Overall, 85% of athletes wanted to "maintain training," and 79% disagreed with the statement that it is "okay to not train during lockdown," with a greater prevalence for both in higher-level athletes. In total, 60% of athletes considered "coaching by correspondence (remote coaching)" to be sufficient (highest amongst world-class athletes). During lockdown, < 40% were able to maintain sport-specific training (e.g., long endurance [39%], interval training [35%], weightlifting [33%], plyometric exercise [30%]) at pre-lockdown levels (higher among world-class, international, and national athletes), with most (83%) training for "general fitness and health maintenance" during lockdown. Athletes trained alone (80%) and focused on bodyweight (65%) and cardiovascular (59%) exercise/training during lockdown. Compared with before lockdown, most athletes reported reduced training frequency (from between five and seven sessions per week to four or fewer), shorter training sessions (from ≥ 60 to < 60 min), and lower sport-specific intensity (~ 38% reduction), irrespective of athlete classification. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19-related lockdowns saw marked reductions in athletic training specificity, intensity, frequency, and duration, with notable within-sample differences (by athlete classification). Higher classification athletes had the strongest desire to "maintain" training and the greatest opposition to "not training" during lockdowns. These higher classification athletes retained training specificity to a greater degree than others, probably because of preferential access to limited training resources. More higher classification athletes considered "coaching by correspondence" as sufficient than did lower classification athletes. These lockdown-mediated changes in training were not conducive to maintenance or progression of athletes' physical capacities and were also likely detrimental to athletes' mental health. These data can be used by policy makers, athletes, and their multidisciplinary teams to modulate their practice, with a degree of individualization, in the current and continued pandemic-related scenario. Furthermore, the data may drive training-related educational resources for athletes and their multidisciplinary teams. Such upskilling would provide athletes with evidence to inform their training modifications in response to germane situations (e.g., COVID related, injury, and illness).

Physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic: a survey with adults in Northern Brazil

The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of the social distancing recommendations during COVID-19 pandemic on the physical activity behavior in adults living in the Northern Brazil region. A final sample of 654 adults (386 women) aged 33 ± 10 years old participated in this study. A questionnaire with 45 questions concerning sociodemographic characteristics, self-perception of health and characteristics of physical activity behavior before and after the recommendations of social distancing was applied in an online format. Comparisons between levels of physical activity be-fore and after pandemic were conducted applying a McNemar test. A binary logistic regression was applied to analyze the factors associated to being physically active during the pandemic. Analyzing the percentage levels of physical activity before and during social distancing, we observed an increase of physically inactive behavior (19% vs. 36.7%), as well as a decrease in active (32.6% vs. 18.6%) and very active (16.7% vs. 6.6%) behaviors, respectively. Among participants, 59.2% of them became sedentary during pandemic. Walking and running activities continued to be among the most practiced, although they showed a reduction during social distancing. Social distancing recommendations due to the COVID-19 pandemic caused a decrease in the overall levels of physical activity in adults living in the Amazonas State and specifically in the practice of individuals who were physically active and very physically active before pandemic O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar o impacto das recomendações de distanciamento social durante a pandemia COVID-19 sobre os níveis de prática de atividade física em adultos residentes na região Norte do Brasil. Uma amostra final de 654 adultos (386 mulheres) com idade de 33 ± 10 anos participou deste estudo. Foi aplicado, em formato online, um questionário com 45 questões sobre características sociodemográficas, autopercepção de saúde e características do comportamento de prática de atividade física antes e após as recomendações de distanciamento social. As comparações entre os níveis de atividade física antes e depois da pandemia foram realizadas aplicando um teste de McNemar. Uma regressão logística binária foi aplicada para analisar os fatores associados à atividade física durante a pandemia. Analisando os níveis percentuais de atividade física antes e durante o distanciamento social, observamos um aumento do comportamento fisicamente inativo (19% vs. 36,7%), bem como uma diminuição dos comportamentos ativo (32,6% vs. 18,6%) e muito ativo (16,7%) vs. 6,6%). Entre os participantes, 59,2% deles se tornaram sedentários durante a pandemia. As atividades de caminhada e corrida continuaram entre as mais praticadas, embora tenham apresentado redução durante o distanciamento social. As recomendações de distanciamento social devido à pandemia COVID-19 causaram diminuição nos níveis gerais de atividade física em adultos residentes no Estado do Amazonas e especificamente na prática de indivíduos que eram fisicamente ativos e muito ativos antes da pandemia

Physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic: a survey with adults in Northern Brazil

The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of the social distancing recommendations during COVID-19 pandemic on the physical activity behavior in adults living in the Northern Brazil region. A final sample of 654 adults (386 women) aged 33 ± 10 years old participated in this study. A questionnaire with 45 questions concerning sociodemographic characteristics, self-perception of health and characteristics of physical activity behavior before and after the recommendations of social distancing was applied in an online format. Comparisons between levels of physical activity be-fore and after pandemic were conducted applying a McNemar test. A binary logistic regression was applied to analyze the factors associated to being physically active during the pandemic. Analyzing the percentage levels of physical activity before and during social distancing, we observed an increase of physically inactive behavior (19% vs. 36.7%), as well as a decrease in active (32.6% vs. 18.6%) and very active (16.7% vs. 6.6%) behaviors, respectively. Among participants, 59.2% of them became sedentary during pandemic. Walking and running activities continued to be among the most practiced, although they showed a reduction during social distancing. Social distancing recommendations due to the COVID-19 pandemic caused a decrease in the overall levels of physical activity in adults living in the Amazonas State and specifically in the practice of individuals who were physically active and very physically active before pandemic O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar o impacto das recomendações de distanciamento social durante a pandemia COVID-19 sobre os níveis de prática de atividade física em adultos residentes na região Norte do Brasil. Uma amostra final de 654 adultos (386 mulheres) com idade de 33 ± 10 anos participou deste estudo. Foi aplicado, em formato online, um questionário com 45 questões sobre características sociodemográficas, autopercepção de saúde e características do comportamento de prática de atividade física antes e após as recomendações de distanciamento social. As comparações entre os níveis de atividade física antes e depois da pandemia foram realizadas aplicando um teste de McNemar. Uma regressão logística binária foi aplicada para analisar os fatores associados à atividade física durante a pandemia. Analisando os níveis percentuais de atividade física antes e durante o distanciamento social, observamos um aumento do comportamento fisicamente inativo (19% vs. 36,7%), bem como uma diminuição dos comportamentos ativo (32,6% vs. 18,6%) e muito ativo (16,7%) vs. 6,6%). Entre os participantes, 59,2% deles se tornaram sedentários durante a pandemia. As atividades de caminhada e corrida continuaram entre as mais praticadas, embora tenham apresentado redução durante o distanciamento social. As recomendações de distanciamento social devido à pandemia COVID-19 causaram diminuição nos níveis gerais de atividade física em adultos residentes no Estado do Amazonas e especificamente na prática de indivíduos que eram fisicamente ativos e muito ativos antes da pandemia

Effect of the COVID-19 quarantine on body mass among combat sports athletes.

INTRODUCTION: Introduction: to combat the COVID-19 pandemic governments have adopted measures such as quarantine and social distancing. Objective: the main objective of the present study was to analyze the impact of COVID-19 quarantine on body mass in combat sports athletes. Methods: we conducted a cross-sectional, prospective, multi-center study that evaluated 234 men (mean age and standard deviation, 29 ± 10 years) residing in Argentina (n = 38); Bolivia (n = 1); Brazil (n = 105); Chile (n = 30); El Salvador (n = 1); Spain (n = 22); Mexico (n = 22) and Peru (n = 15). Of these, 12 practiced Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ), 54 boxing, 67 judo, 13 karate, 52 kick boxing & muay thai (KB & MT), 9 mixed martial arts (MMA), and 27 taekwondo (TKD). An online survey was created using Google Forms. It was implemented between April 4th and April 17th, 2020. Athletes were consulted about their body mass before starting the quarantine and after 20 ± 5 days of quarantine. Results: athletes in all combat sports were heavier during quarantine as compared to pre-quarantine (p < 0.001, d = 0.12). Conclusions: combat sports athletes experienced an increase in body mass during the COVID-19 quarantine.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Introducción: para combatir la pandemia de COVID-19, los gobiernos han adoptado medidas como la cuarentena y el distanciamiento social. Objetivo: el principal objetivo del presente estudio fue analizar el impacto de la cuarentena por COVID-19 sobre la masa corporal en atletas de deportes de combate. Métodos: realizamos un estudio transversal, prospectivo y multicéntrico que evaluó a 234 hombres (media de edad y desviación estándar, 29 ± 10 años) que residen en Argentina (n = 38); Bolivia (n = 1); Brasil (n = 105); Chile (n = 30); El Salvador (n = 1); España (n = 22); México (n = 22) y Perú (n = 15). De estos, 12 practicaban jiu-jitsu brasileño (BJJ), 54 boxeo, 67 judo, 13 karate, 52 kick boxing y muay thai (KB y MT), 9 artes marciales mixtas (MMA) y 27 taekwondo (TKD). Se creó una encuesta en línea usando Google Forms. Se implementó entre el 4 y el 17 de abril de 2020. Se preguntó a los deportistas sobre su masa corporal antes de comenzar la cuarentena y después de 20 ± 5 días de cuarentena. Resultados: los atletas de todos los deportes de combate resultaron más pesados durante la cuarentena que durante la precuarentena (p < 0,001, d = 0,12). Conclusiones: los atletas de deportes de combate presentaron una mayor masa corporal durante la cuarentena a causa de la COVID-19.

High-intensity interval training recommendations for combat sports athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused governments to establish quarantine and social distancing for the population in order to decrease the contamination peak, factors that have affected the athletes' preparation. In this context, we developed some high-intensity interval training (HIIT) recommendations for Olympic combat sports athletes that can be performed at home. The HIIT protocols should be added by body mass-based muscle strengthening exercises (similar to technical exercises), with the goal to preserve athletes' muscle mass and physical fitness. Finally, emergency situations require contingency plans for sport.