Effects of the COVID-19 Lockdown on Body Composition and Bioelectrical Phase Angle in Serie A Soccer Players: A Comparison of Two Consecutive Seasons
Open accessAbstract
The present study compared changes in body composition during the COVID-19-associated lockdown with the same period of the following season in elite soccer players. Fifteen elite male soccer players (30.5 ± 3.6 years.) underwent a bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) before (end of February) and after (end of May) the lockdown, which occurred during the 2019/2020 season, and at the same period during the following competitive season in 2020/2021, when restrictions were lifted. Fat and muscle mass were estimated using predictive equations, while phase angle (PhA) and bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) patterns were directly measured. After lockdown, fat mass remained unchanged (p > 0.05), while muscle mass (95%CI = −1.12/−0.64; ES = −2.04) and PhA (95%CI = 0.51/−0.24, ES = −1.56) decreased. A rightward displacement of the BIVA vector was also found (p < 0.001, ES = 1.50). After the same period during the regular season, FM% and muscle mass did not change (p > 0.05), while the PhA increased (95%CI = 0.01/0.22; ES = 0.63). A leftward vector displacement (p < 0.001, ES = 1.05) was also observed. The changes in muscle mass correlated with changes in PhA (“lockdown” season 2019/2020: ß = −1.128, p = 0.011; “regular” season 2020/21: ß = 1.963, p = 0.011). In conclusion, coaches and strength conditioners should monitor muscle mass in soccer players during detraining periods as this parameter appears to be mainly affected by changes in training plans.
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Lean soft tissues are more sensitive to variations due to detraining periods where a rapid decrease can be experimented.
“but with respect to body fat, lean soft tissues are more sensitive to variations due to detraining periods where a rapid decrease can be experimented [50].”
From Athletic bioimpedance-based equations underestimate fat free mass components in male elite soccer players: development and validation of new soccer-specific predictive models (2023) · cites this paper as [50]
The Discussion (page unavailable) reports that muscle mass fell markedly during the detraining-like lockdown while fat-mass percentage remained unchanged. This supports the comparison for muscle mass in the soccer players studied, but the paper does not establish that lean soft tissues generally decrease rapidly during detraining. (LLM, conf=0.83)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredALST reduction could be expected during transition periods and therefore closely monitored in soccer players.
“Regarding the ALST, its reduction could be expected during transition periods and therefore closely monitored in soccer players [50].”
From Athletic bioimpedance-based equations underestimate fat free mass components in male elite soccer players: development and validation of new soccer-specific predictive models (2023) · cites this paper as [50]
The Abstract and Conclusions report reduced muscle mass during the lockdown-related detraining period and recommend monitoring muscle mass in soccer players during detraining. The Introduction also discusses body-composition changes during off-season breaks. However, the study measured estimated muscle mass, not ALST specifically, and did not directly test ordinary transition periods. (LLM, conf=0.86)
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Campa, F., Bongiovanni, T., Trecroci, A., Rossi, A., Greco, G., Pasta, G., & Coratella, G.
- Affiliations
- University of Bologna (IT)
- University of Milan (IT)
- University of Pisa (IT)
- University of Bari Aldo Moro (IT)
- Medical Department, Parma Calcio 1913, 43100 Parma, Italy
- Corresponding author
- Greco, Gianpiero
- ORCID
- Venue
- Biology
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Published
- 2021-11-13
- Volume
- 10
- Issue
- 11
- Pages
- 1175
- ISSN
- 2079-7737 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC8614814
- OpenAlex
- W3214616996
- Cited by
- 20
- References
- 37
- Citations by year
- 2025: 4 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 7
- FWCI
- 2.51
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Biology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Padua Research Archive (University of Padova) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Archivio Istituzionale della Ricerca (Universita Degli Studi Di Milano) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- CINECA IRIS Institutional Research Information System (University of Bari Aldo Moro) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Body Composition Measurement Techniques
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports injuries and prevention
- Keywords
- COVID-19 lockdown, body composition, soccer players, muscle mass, fat mass, bioelectrical impedance vector analysis, detraining, elite athletes, training load
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