Effect of COVID-19 Infection on the Performance of Adolescent Professional Overhead Athletes

Primary outcomes

1. Core Muscle Endurance

   Time frame: June 2021- August 2021

   Four different tests were used to evaluate core stabilization. Sorensen test was performed for extensor muscle endurance. For the Sorensen test, young athletes were laid supine in a fixed bed of 76 cm height and 61 cm width; and asked to extend their body over the pelvis and keep the position as long as they could. Core flexor muscle endurance was measured in the position of body flexion of 60°, and knee and hip flexion of 90° and athletes were asked to keep the position as long as possible. To evaluate the general core muscle power, young athletes were asked to lie prone and lift their body on forearm and toes and keep the position as long as possible. For the lateral core muscle endurance athletes were asked to get into left and right decubitus position respectively and lift their body on forearm and toes and keep the position as long as possible. All tests were performed by a chronometer and test was terminated as the position was lost and the time passed was recorded

2. Jamar hand dynamometer

   Time frame: June 2021- August 2021

   Hand grip strength was measured by Jamar hand dynamometer. Measurement was taken three times for both right and left sides while the subject was sitting on a chair, shoulder in adduction and elbow at 90 degree flexion. Twenty seconds of rest was given between the two measurements. Mean value of three results were calculated and recorded as kPa

3. Upper Extremity Functional Performance

   Time frame: June 2021- August 2021

   Health ball throwing test was used to evaluate upper extremity open kinetic chain and explosive power. Subjects were told to hold the 3 kg health ball and throw it horizontally to the furthest possible point using two hands. The distance between the starting point and the first contact point on the floor was recorded as centimeters. Test was repeated three times and mean values were recorded.

4. Reaction Time

   Time frame: June 2021- August 2021

   Reaction time and dynamic postural control was evaluated with ''Fitlight TrainerTM'' (Fitlight Trainer Corporation, Thensvej, Risskov, Denmark). Athletes were asked to turn out the LED lights placed on the wall that were randomly turned on and the total number of the LED lights they turned off and their reaction time were noted as seconds

5. Agility Performance

   Time frame: June 2021- August 2021

   Agility test was used to evaluate the agility. Markers were placed at the left and right side 5 yard (4,57 m.) away from the starting point. Photocell gate was placed at the starting point to detect the passing times of the athletes. Athletes took position at the starting point and they were told to touch the right marker and then the left marker and turn back to starting point

6. 3 Minutes Step Test

   Time frame: June 2021- August 2021

   A step board with the height of 30 cm., oxygen saturation probe, pulse oximeter, metronome and chronometer were used for the test. Athletes were informed about the test and rhythm of the metronome was delivered for certain time to get used to the rhythm. Athletes started the test with the foot they preferred and were asked to step on and off the board in harmony with the rhythm of the metronome. Oxygen saturation, pulse rates and Modified Borg Scale score that is used to identify fatigue were recorded at the end of the test