Romanian Study Finds That COVID-19 Affects the Fitness of Teen Sport Players or Athletes
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jan 03, 2026 8 hours, 18 minutes ago
Medical News: COVID-19 Leaves Lingering Impact on Young Soccer Players
A new study from Romania has found that even mild COVID-19 infections can temporarily weaken the strength and stamina of teenage soccer players, with some effects lasting for months after the virus has cleared. The research focused on boys aged 12 to 16 who were actively training and competing in organized soccer programs before and after infection.
Mild COVID-19 infections can quietly reduce strength and stamina in young soccer players long after symptoms fade
The findings are important for parents, coaches, and young athletes who may assume that a mild illness means a quick and complete return to normal performance. This
Medical News report highlights why careful monitoring after COVID remains crucial for youth sports.
Who Conducted the Study
The research team came from several respected Romanian institutions. These included Titu Maiorescu University in Bucharest, Romanian American University in Bucharest, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Bucharest, Chiajna Medical Center in Dudu, the Emergency Hospital for Children Grigore Alexandrescu in Bucharest, and the National Institute of Pneumology Marius Nasta in Bucharest.
How the Research Was Done
The study followed 120 male adolescent soccer players. Half had previously tested positive for COVID-19, while the other half had no history of infection. All players trained regularly and followed the same training schedules. Researchers compared physical performance before infection, one month after infection, and three months later.
Simple field tests were used to measure strength, speed, and endurance. These included handgrip strength tests, short sprint runs, bench press strength, and a beep test that measures aerobic fitness. These tests are commonly used in sports training and are easy to understand even without medical knowledge.
What the Researchers Found
One month after COVID-19 infection, all infected players showed clear declines in physical ability. Grip strength dropped sharply, upper body strength weakened, sprint times slowed, and endurance levels fell. This happened even though all infected players had only mild symptoms and missed very little training time.
After three months, some improvements were seen. Short sprints and bench press strength mostly returned to pre COVID-19 levels. However, grip strength and aerobic endurance remained noticeably lower than before infection. In contrast, players who never had COVID-19 showed steady or slightly improved performance over the same period.
Why These Findings Matter
The results suggest that COVID-19 affects different parts of the body in different ways. Muscles used for short bursts of power recover faster, while systems linked to stamina and overall endurance take longer to heal. This may be due to lingering effects on the heart lungs or nervous system, even after mild illness.
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Conclusions
This study shows that COVID-19 can temporarily disrupt physical performance in teenage soccer players, with some effects lasting at least three months. Even mild infections can slow recovery of strength and endurance. The findings strongly support the need for gradual and individualized return to play plans, careful fitness testing, and patience before young athletes resume full competitive intensity.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Cureus.
https://www.cureus.com/articles/444867-physical-capacity-after-sars-cov-2-infection-in-adolescent-male-soccer-players-a-three-month-follow-up-study#!/
For the latest COVID-19 news, keep on logging to Thailand
Medical News.
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/coronavirus
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/long-covid
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