The aim of this study is to analyse the alterations in the physical, physiological, and performance characteristics of the elite Greco-Roman wrestlers who experienced a prolonged period of detraining (14 weeks) as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Elite Greco-Roman wrestlers volunteered for the research. Heart rate variability values were measured during the detraining period and for 8 weeks of subsequent training, and then interpreted for training periods with different workloads. Body fat percentage measured during detraining and every 2-week interval during the training period. To determine the fitness status of wrestlers, the Specific Wrestling Fitness test was used before and following the 8-week training period.

Elite athletes train continuously and at high intensity in a planned and regular basis in order to achieve success in the international competitions in line with the necessity of the competitive conditions, to maintain the success achieved and to preserve it for a long time. As a result of these high-intensity training, the physiological adaptations of elite athletes are different when compared to sedentary individuals and other athletes. For this reason, athletes who want to show high performance take care to maintain these adaptations as well as develop them. In addition, it is necessary to provide training stimuli at a regular and sufficient level in order to maintain or develop these adaptations Excessive training stimulus can lead to overtraining, while inadequate or complete cessation of training can result in a loss of performance known as detraining.

High-level competitive athletes who do not want to experience this loss of performance avoid taking a long break from training by limiting the detraining period. However, in some cases (injury, chronic injury, pregnancy in female athletes, etc.) athletes are forced to enter a detraining period. In these cases of partial or complete cessation of training, it is predicted that the organism's response time to exercise is prolonged. In case of interruption of training for up to 4 weeks, decreases can be seen in general endurance and muscular endurance performance without significant changes in muscle strength, while losses in muscle strength are seen in addition to muscle endurance in periods exceeding four weeks 3. Research indicates that after a detraining period, there is a tendency for skinfold thickness, body fat mass, and percentage to increase, and for fat-free mass and athletic performance to decrease. On the other hand, literature says that athletes can regain their muscle strength in a short time after short-term (3 weeks) detraining. Yasuda et al. reported that as a result of the strength training practices applied with the blow flow restriction method after 3 weeks of detraining to individuals who had previously done strength training, muscle strength gains were rapidly achieved.

In addition to physical losses such as strength and endurance in the organism, the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which is an indicator of general health and an important reflector of optimal sportive performance in athletes, and heart rate variability scores, which are frequently used to determine ANS, may also show negative deterioration in the event of cessation of exercise. A prolonged period of detraining can cause significant deterioration in heart rate variability values and is often associated with a decreased athletic performance.

In early 2020, a worldwide outbreak of coronavirus disease has occurred, which is considered a global emergency. Preventive strategies aimed at minimizing the risk of infection include the utilization of social gatherings. The impact on elite sport has been significant, with ongoing championships halted and major international events postponed. Moreover, the majority of elite athletes are forced to participate in isolated and usually unsupervised training sessions within the boundaries of their own homes. Following the lockdown, it was recommended that trainings be carefully planned and that performance and health parameters be closely watched to ensure a safe return to the competitions. This approach helped prevent injuries and allowed athletes to gradually regain their physical condition.

Although there are some studies on the effects of long-term inactivity on physical and physiological adaptations and sports performance parameters in elite athletes, there are not enough studies on elite wrestlers that examine the effects of such prolonged inactivity (14 weeks) on their physical and physiological recovery levels recovery and the present knowledge of the period required for elite-level wrestlers to attain optimal performance levels in getting ready for potential competitions remains inadequate.

The purpose of this study was to examine the changes in the physical and physiological conditions of elite wrestlers on the Turkish National Wrestling Team who were exposed to physical inactivity for 14 weeks after the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown, followed by an 8-week training and competition period.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being 19 years or older
• An elite athlete who had international competition experience
• Not taking any medication that may affect cardiac capacity
• Absence of a disease that may affect the cardiac or autonomic nervous system.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Desire to leave the study
• Failure to participate measurements for concurrent 5 days
• Injury or long-term illness during training period.

This study included 20 male volunteer wrestlers who were members of the national wrestling team and had been training for 10 years. The wrestlers in the research group consisted of elite level athletes. Two of them had European and World championship medals and 7 of them had other medals in the year before the untrained period. In the year after the untrained period, one of these athletes won world silver medal and the following year gold medal. In addition, 6 of the athletes won medals at the European and World Championships.

all IPD collected throughout the trial will be shared

Will be available 10 September 2024

The datasets generated during the current study will be available upon request from corresponder author Tuba Melekoğlu