Impact of COVID-19 on the physical activity, quality of life and mental health of adolescent athletes: a 2-year evaluation of over 17 000 athletes.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the changes in mental health, quality of life (QOL) and physical activity (PA) among adolescent athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic as organised sports resumed. METHODS: Adolescent athletes completed surveys including demographic and sport participation information, 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder, 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire, Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory and the Hospital for Special Surgery Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale in May 2020 following COVID-19-related sport cancellations (Spring20) and after returning to sports in May 2021 (Spring21). The groups were balanced by inverse propensity score weighting and compared using analysis of variance models and ordinal regression models. RESULTS: 17 421 participants were included (Spring20=13 002; Spring21=4419; 16.2±1.2 years; 53% female). Anxiety was significantly lower (better) in Spring21 (Spring20=7.0, 95% CI 6.9 to 7.1; Spring21=4.9, 95% CI 4.8 to 5.0, p<0.001), as was the prevalence of moderate to severe anxiety (Spring20=29.4%, Spring21=17.1%, p<0.001). Depression was significantly improved in Spring21 (Spring20=7.6, 95% CI 7.5 to 7.7; Spring21=4.6, 95% CI 4.5 to 4.8, p<0.001), as was the prevalence of moderate to severe depression (Spring20=32.2%, Spring21=15.4%, p<0.001). Athletes in Spring21 reported higher QOL (Spring20=79.6, 95% CI 79.3 to 79.9; Spring21=84.7, 95% CI 84.4 to 85.0, p<0.001) and increased levels of PA (Spring20=13.8, 95% CI 13.6 to 13.9; Spring21=22.7, 95% CI 22.6 to 22.9, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Early COVID-19 sports restrictions were associated with worsening mental health in adolescents. In 2021, after returning to sports, athletes reported significant improvements in mental health, QOL and PA, although mental health adversities remain an important priority.

Does soccer headgear reduce the incidence of sport-related concussion? A cluster, randomised controlled trial of adolescent athletes.

BACKGROUND: There have been no large randomised controlled trials to determine whether soccer headgear reduces the incidence or severity of sport-related concussion (SRC) in US high school athletes. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine whether headgear reduces the incidence or severity (days out from soccer) of SRCs in soccer players. METHODS: 2766 participants (67% female, age 15.6±1.2) (who undertook 3050 participant years) participated in this cluster randomised trial. Athletes in the headgear (HG) group wore headgear during the season, while those in the no headgear (NoHG) group did not. Staff recorded SRC and non-SRC injuries and soccer exposures. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine time-to-SRC between groups, while severity was compared with a Wilcoxon rank-sum test. RESULTS: 130 participants (5.3% female, 2.2% male) sustained an SRC. The incidence of SRC was not different between the HG and NoHG groups for males (HR: 2.00 (0.63-6.43) p=0.242) and females (HR: 0.86 (0.54-1.36) p=0.520). Days lost from SRC were not different (p=0.583) between the HG group (13.5 (11.0-018.8) days) and the NoHG group (13.0 (9.0-18.8) days). CONCLUSIONS: Soccer headgear did not reduce the incidence or severity of SRC in high school soccer players. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02850926.

A Multiyear Assessment of the Effect of Sport Participation on the Health of Adolescent Athletes During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

CONTEXT: Sport cancellations early in the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant negative effect on the health of US adolescents. The effect of restarting sports during the pandemic has not been described. OBJECTIVE: To identify the effect of sport participation on the health of adolescents before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Sample recruited via social media. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Wisconsin adolescent athletes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Participants provided information regarding their age, sex, and sport(s) involvement and completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Item to assess depression symptoms, the Hospital for Special Surgery Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale to measure physical activity, and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 to measure quality of life (QoL). Data were collected in spring 2021 (Spring21; n = 1906, age = 16.0 ± 1.2 years, females = 48.8%), when interscholastic sports had fully resumed, and were compared with similar cohorts of adolescent athletes at 2 time points: (1) spring 2020 (Spring20; n = 3243, age = 16.2 ± 1.2 years, females = 57.9%) when sports were cancelled and (2) 2016-2018 (PreCOVID-19) before the pandemic (n = 5231, age = 15.7 ± 1.1 years, females = 65.0%). Comparisons were conducted via analysis-of-variance models and ordinal regressions with age and sex as covariates. RESULTS: The prevalence of moderate to severe depression was lower in Spring21 than in Spring20 but higher than in PreCOVID-19 (PreCOVID-19 = 5.3%, Spring20 = 37.8%, Spring21 = 22.8%; P < .001). Physical activity scores (mean [95% CI]) were higher in Spring21 than in Spring20 but lower than in PreCOVID-19 (PreCOVID-19 = 23.1 [22.7, 23.5], Spring20 = 13.5 [13.3, 13.7], Spring21 = 21.9 [21.6, 22.2]). Similarly, QoL scores were higher in Spring21 than in Spring20 but lower than in PreCOVID-19 (PreCOVID-19 = 92.8 [92.5, 93.1], Spring20 = 80.7 [80.3, 81.1], Spring21 = 84.3 [83.8, 84.8]). CONCLUSIONS: Although sports have restarted, clinicians should be aware that physical activity, mental health, and QoL are still significantly affected in adolescent athletes by the ongoing pandemic.

Does Increased Physical Activity Explain the Psychosocial Benefits of Sport Participation During COVID-19?

CONTEXT: Although the return to sports during COVID-19 has been associated with improvements in mental health and quality of life (QOL), whether these benefits are primarily due to increases in physical activity (PA) is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether PA increases were responsible for the improvements in mental health and QOL among adolescents who returned to sport during the COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Wisconsin secondary schools. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: A total of 559 adolescent athletes (age = 15.7 + 1.2 years, females = 43.6%) from 44 schools completed a survey in October 2020. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Demographic information, whether they had returned to sport participation, school instruction type, anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), QOL (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0), and PA (Hospital for Special Surgery Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale). Mediation analysis was used to assess whether the relationships between sport status and anxiety, depression, and QOL were mediated by PA. RESULTS: At the time of the study, 171 (31%) had returned to play and 388 (69%) had not. Athletes who had returned to play had less anxiety (3.6 ± 0.4 versus 8.2 ± 0.6, P < .001) and depression (4.2 ± 0.4 versus 7.3 ± 0.6, P < .001) and higher QOL (88.1 ± 1.0 versus 80.2 ± 1.4, P < .001) and more PA (24.0 ± 0.5 versus 16.3 ± 0.7, P < .001). Physical activity explained a significant, but small, proportion of the difference in depression (22.1%, P = .02) and QOL (16.0%, P = .048) but not anxiety (6.6%, P = .20) between athletes who had and those who had not returned to play. CONCLUSIONS: Increased PA was responsible for only a small portion of the improvements in depression and QOL among athletes who returned to sports. This suggests that most of the mental health benefits of sport participation for adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic were independent of the benefits of increased PA.

The Psychosocial Benefits of Sport Participation During COVID-19 Are Only Partially Explained by Increased Physical Activity.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether physical activity (PA) increases were responsible for the improvements in mental health and quality of life (QOL) seen among adolescents who returned to sport during the COVID-19 pandemic.Adolescent athletes were asked to complete a survey in October 2020 regarding demographic information, whether they had returned to sport participation (no [DNP], yes [PLY]), school instruction type (virtual, in-person, hybrid), anxiety, depression, QOL, and PA. Anxiety, depression, QOL and PA were compared between PLY and DNP using least squares means from linear models adjusted for age, gender, and instruction type. Mediation analysis assessed whether the relationship between sport status and anxiety, depression, and QOL was mediated by PA. 171 athletes had returned to play, while 388 had not. PLY athletes had significantly lower anxiety (3.6±0.4 v 8.2±0.6, p<0.001) and depression (4.2±0.4 v 7.3±0.6, p<0.001), and significantly higher QOL (88.1±1.0 v 80.2±1.4, p<0.001) and PA (24.0±0.5 v 16.3±0.7, p<0.001). PA explained a significant, but relatively small portion of the difference in depression (22.1%, p=0.02) and QOL (16.0%, p=0.048) between PLY and DNP athletes, but did not explain the difference in anxiety (6.6%, p=0.20). Increased PA is only responsible for a small portion of the improvements in depression and QOL among athletes who returned to sports and unrelated to improvements in anxiety. This suggests that the majority of the mental health benefits of sport participation for adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic are independent of, and in addition to, the benefits of increased PA.

Self-Assembling Intrauterine Device (Upod) Modulation of the Reproductive Cycle in Mares.

The present study evaluated a novel intrauterine device for its effect on estrus suppression. The self-assembling intrauterine device (Upod) consists of three 12 mm × 26 mm elliptically shaped units each with a magnetic core and coated with a polymer (total weight 22.5 g). Each magnetic unit is inserted independently from the other. Once inside the uterus, these magnetic elliptical units self-assemble and adapt the lower energy "ring" conformation. In mares, the devices can be inserted at any stage of the estrous cycle without the need for multiple exams. Shatter-proof grade material is used to assure safety for long-term use. The Upod is inserted and retrieved using an applicator and magnetic retriever. In experiment 1, Upods were inserted postovulation in 15 mares during estrus. The mean duration of diestrus was 73.4 ± 36.6 days (mean ± S.D.). Endometrial biopsies showed no significant differences before and after Upod placement. In experiment 2, Upods were inserted regardless of the stage of the estrous cycle in 14 mares. The mean duration of diestrus was 51.3 ± 22.7 days (mean ± S.D). The presence of the Upod was monitored by transrectal ultrasound and an external handheld metal detector. Progesterone was assayed to monitor corpus luteum lifespan, and the mean duration of diestrus was significantly extended in both experiments compared to the control group. Eight mares were randomly selected to be bred the following year, with 100% conception rate post-Upod retrieval.

The Effect of Sport-Related Concussion Injuries on Concussion Symptoms and Health-Related Quality of Life in Male and Female Adolescent Athletes: A Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Sport-related concussions (SRCs) are associated with short-term disablement, characterized as increased concussion symptoms and lower health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, there are limited longitudinal data detailing how an SRC affects disablement beyond short-term injury recovery. PURPOSE: To longitudinally assess the effect of SRCs on symptoms and HRQoL in high school athletes through the 12 months after injury. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. METHODS: The 125 participants included high school athletes who sustained an SRC (female patients, 36%; mean ± SD age, 15.9 ± 1.1 years). The Post-concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS) from the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool-3 and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQL) were completed at enrollment and repeated at 24 to 72 hours (onset) and at 7 days (D7) after the SRC; on the date of return to play (RTP); and at 3, 6, and 12 months (M12) after the SRC. Scores at each time point were compared with the athletes' own baseline via linear mixed models for repeated measures, controlling for age, sex, and history of previous SRC and with patient as a random effect. RESULTS: Relative to baseline, female patients reported higher PCSS symptom and severity scores at onset (P < .001) and D7 (P < .001), while scores were not higher (P > .05) for RTP through M12. As compared with baseline, male patients reported higher PCSS scores at onset (P < .001) and D7 (P = .003) and severity scores at onset (P < .001) and D7 (P = .016), while the symptom and severity scores were not higher (P > .05) at RTP through M12. Female participants reported lower PedsQL physical scores at onset (P = .006), while scores were not lower (P > .05) from D7 through M12. Female psychosocial scores were not lower (P > .05) at any time after the SRC, while the total PedsQL score was lower at onset (P = .05) but not from D7 through M12. Male physical scores were lower at onset (P < .001) and D7 (P = .001) but not lower (P > .05) from RTP through M12. Male psychosocial and PedsQL scores were unchanged (P > .05) from baseline at onset through M12. CONCLUSION: After an SRC, high school athletes reported initial disablement (increased symptoms and lower HRQoL) through their RTP. However, after RTP, no similar disablement was detected through 12 months after injury.