Personal Risk
- Regular exercise is beneficial for your immune system. Prolonged, high intensity exercise may dampen the immune system, particularly when the individual is not used to such high-level activity. Therefore, there is a potentially increased susceptibility to COVID-19 infection in athletes. This risk is probably small and if a practical approach is applied, where players do not exceed normal training load, they should be at no higher risk than the non-exercising population.
- Those who suffer from underlying illness such as cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, diabetes and some forms of cancer appear to be more severely affected by COVID- 19. So too are older patients (>60) and those who are severely obese (BMI 40+). Ethnicity also seems to be a factor, in the United Kingdom people of Black, Asian and minority ethnicity have been more likely to suffer adverse health outcomes following COVID-19 infection than the rest of society. Similar trends are emerging in the USA.
- Athletes without underlying conditions are not considered part of the vulnerable group, however household members may be and this must be given consideration when establishing those at risk on the return to training and playing.
- Players who have suffered a COVID-19 infection should self-isolate for 7 days and not engage in exercise for 14 days or until their symptoms settle.(1) When player symptoms have settled they should consult with their team doctor or primary care doctor for clearance to return to activity.
- Information from China and Italy shows that up to 20% of those hospitalised have cardiac involvement – likely thought to be myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle). Specialist Cardiology review may be required after prolonged hospitalisation.(6–8)
- If you have concerns about exercising after COVID-19 infection you should discuss this with your team doctor or primary care doctor.
- It is important to note that medical teams and players should work together to outline any and all of the additional factors which may complete the overall risk for the player. A risk register is encouraged to formally record these factors and should include:
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- Any player health issues such as asthma or allergy.
- Record of COVID-19 infection, the need for cardiological or respiratory follow-up and the impact this may have on return to sport.
- Whether the player lives with a vulnerable or shielded persons.
- Whether the player lives with any front-line or primary-care workers.