OBJECTIVES: In 2020, measures against the spread of COVID-19 were adopted, including nationwide school closures, restrictions on the free movement of persons and leisure time sports activities. The aim was to assess the impact of COVID-19-associated restrictions on the performance of paediatric and adolescent competitive athletes by comparing basic anthropometric and performance parameters. METHODS: The sample comprised 389 participants (115 girls, 274 boys). All participants were examined during regular preventive sports health checks from September to November 2019 and a year later. At the initial examination, the mean age of the entire sample was 12.2 ± 2.7 years (median 12.0, minimum 7.0; maximum 17.0). The examination consisted of a complete medical history and physical examination including maximal exercise testing on a leg cycle ergometer. RESULTS: In the entire sample, as well as in the boy and girl subgroups, body height, weight, body mass index (BMI), BMI percentile, and power output significantly increased according to a percentile graph for boys and girls in 2020. A reduction in power output (W/kg) was found. By 2020, W/kg dropped in 56.4% of the youngest participants (7-13 years), 75% of those aged 14-16 years and 64.9% of the oldest individuals (16-17 years). The percentage of the youngest children with power output reductions was statistically significantly lower than the percentages of the other age subgroups (p = 0.007). There were no significant differences in results between genders. CONCLUSIONS: Performance and anthropometric parameters worsened especially among older children. This should be reflected when planning epidemic measures in case of any similar situation in the future.

Department of Biophysics Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry Palacky University Olomouc Olomouc Czech Republic

Department of Internal Medicine 1 Cardiology Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry Palacky University Olomouc Olomouc Czech Republic

Department of Natural Sciences in Kinanthropology Faculty of Physical Culture Palacky University Olomouc Olomouc Czech Republic

Department of Public Health Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry Palacky University Olomouc Olomouc Czech Republic

Department of Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine Faculty of Medicine University of Ostrava and University Hospital Ostrava Ostrava Czech Republic

Domazlice Hospital a s Domazlice Czech Republic

ReFit Clinic s r o Olomouc Czech Republic

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