Vnitr Lek 2021, 67(1):e14-e21 | DOI: 10.36290/vnl.2021.012

A comprehensive interdisciplinary view at the Return to Sport after COVID-19 infection

Filip Hrdlička^1,2, Jaroslav Větvička^3,4, Vendula Bendová¹, Jiří Beran⁵, Bohuslav Bunganič⁶, Petr Krejčí st.^4,6, Lumír Kroček³, Václav Monhart⁶, Jan Mühlfeit⁷, Přemysl Rákosník⁸, Pavel Stejskal⁹, Michal Šafář¹⁰, Josef Veselka¹¹, Libor Vítek¹²

¹ 3. lékařská fakulta, Univerzita Karlova, Praha

² SK Slavia Praha - fotbal, a. s.

³ Centrum zdravotnického zabezpečení sportovní reprezentace z.s.

⁴ Lékařská komise, Český olympijský výbor

⁵ Institut postgraduálního vzdělávání ve zdravotnictví

⁶ Interní klinika, 1. LF UK a ÚVN, Praha

⁷ INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France

⁸ Alergologie, Plicní, Praha

⁹ Fakulta sportovních studií, Masarykova Univerzita, Brno

¹⁰ Fakulta tělesné kultury, Univerzita Palackého, Olomouc

¹¹ Kardiologická klinika 2. LF UK a FN Motol, Praha

¹² IV. interní klinika a Ústav lékařské biochemie a laboratorní diagnostiky, VFN a 1. LF UK, Praha

The covid-19 pandemic has affected the whole world. It applies to all age and social groups. It is no different with athletes. So far, we cannot say for sure what the long-term consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection are. Recent evidence, however, suggests that we should be very careful when returning to sports. After self-isolation, the athlete should undergo a Preparticipation Physical Examination and then pay attention to the gradual dosing of the load to prevent complications. Lifestyle changes and care for the mental health of athletes are also necessary during the illness. In this work, we present a comprehensive methodology for returning to sports after covid-19 for medical and coaching teams caring for athletes divided according to the course of the disease. In scientific literature, similar algorithms are called "Return to Play" or "Return to Sport". Creating an exact algorithm can make the Return to Play process more efficient and safer. However, increased attention still needs to be paid to certain organ systems and specific symptoms that could indicate long-term consequences to the new type of coronavirus.

Keywords: algorithm, covid-19, guideline, infection, preparticipation physical evaluation, return to play, return to sport.

Published: March 2, 2021  Show citation