Specific impact of a COVID-19 infection on training modalities of endurance sportsmen: an observational approach

Endurance exercise places demand on the respiratory system. A COVID-19 infection, which affects the respiratory system, could potentially increase this strain, possibly resulting in decreased endurance capacity. This research sought to examine how a COVID-19 infection influenced training modalities for endurance sportsmen compared to those not trained in endurance sports. A total of 468 sportsmen completed an online self-report questionnaire. The participants were categorized into endurance sportsmen (END, n = 246) and non-endurance sportsmen (NEND, n = 222). The study analyzed demographic information, sports profiles, COVID-19 infection characteristics, and the infection’s impact on training regimens. No significant differences were observed between the groups regarding infection symptoms, symptom duration, lingering symptoms, or challenges when resuming training. However, 74.4% of END sportsmen reduced their training volume, compared to 25.6% of NEND sportsmen ( p < 0.001). Significant between-group differences were noted for initial training durations of 2–5, 5–8, and 8–12 hours per week. A significantly larger proportion of END sportsmen required extended recovery time compared to NEND sportsmen (61.7% vs 38.3%, p < 0.05). The study concluded that COVID-19 infection leads to specific alterations in the training patterns of endurance trained sportsmen, resulting in decreased training volume and increased recovery time when compared to non-endurance sportsmen.