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This dataset was created with the primary objective of elucidating the intricate relationship between the incidence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) re-infections and the pre-illness vaccination profile and types concerning alterations in sports-related physical activity (PA) after SARS-CoV-2 infection among adults. A secondary objective encompassed a comprehensive statistical analysis to explore the influence of three key factors—namely, Vaccination profile, Vaccination types, and Incidence of SARS-CoV-2 re-infections—on changes in PA related to exercise and sports, recorded at two distinct time points: one to two weeks prior to infection and one month after the last SARS-CoV-2 infection.The sample population (n = 5829), drawn from Hellenic territory, adhered to self-inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data collection spanned from February to March 2023 (a two-month period), involving the utilization of the Active-Q (an online, interactive questionnaire) to automatically assess weekly habitual sports-related PA among adults both before and after their last SARS-CoV-2 infection. The questionnaire also captured participant characteristics, pre-illness vaccination statuses (i.e., unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, fully vaccinated, and vaccine types), and occurrences of SARS-CoV-2 re-infections.The dataset sheds light on two noteworthy phenomena: (i) the intricate interplay between post-acute SARS-CoV-2 infection and a decline in sports-related physical activity (−27.6 ± 0.6%, 95%CI: -26.1 – −29.1), influenced by the pre-illness vaccination profile factor (p = 0.040); and (ii) the divergence in sports-related physical activity decline between partially vaccinated (−38.2 ± 0.7%, 95%CI: -35.3 – −41.1, p = 0.031) and fully vaccinated respondents (−19.2 ± 0.5%, 95%CI: −17.2 – −21.2).These phenomena underscore the imperative for tailored interventions and further investigation to promote the resumption of physical activity and mitigate long-term repercussions. Furthermore, this dataset enriches our understanding of the dynamics of sports-related physical activity and provides valuable insights for public health initiatives aiming to address the consequences of COVID-19 on sports-related physical activity levels. Consequently, this cross-sectional dataset is amenable to a diverse array of analytical methodologies, including univariate and multivariate analyses, and holds potential relevance for researchers, leaders in the sports and medical sectors, and policymakers, all of whom share a vested interest in fostering initiatives directed at reinstating physical activity and mitigating the enduring ramifications of post-acute SARS-CoV-2 infection.

This study investigated the impact of basketball-induced fatigue on 3-point jump shooting accuracy, the ball’s entry angle (EA) into the hoop, shot release time (RT), their relationship with player positions in high-level basketball, and the correlation between cardiorespiratory fitness markers and potential shooting performance changes. Guards (n = 13), forwards (n = 13), and centers (n = 12) underwent physiological assessments. Sequentially, they performed 15 jump shots (PRE), a basketball exercise simulation (BEST) involving 24 × 30 s circuit activities, and a repeated shooting test (POST). The study design was double-blind. The results revealed significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) in RT, EA, and successful shots (SSs) between PRE and POST in each group. The percentage changes from PRE to POST conditions across guards, forwards, and centers were for RT: 25.34% [95%CI: 1.7–48.98], 19.73% [95%CI: −1.9–41.36], 14.95% [95%CI: −5.23–35.13]; for EA: −3.89% [95%CI: −14.82–7.04], −3.13% [95%CI: −12.9–6.64], −3.47% [95%CI: −14.19–7.25]; and for SS: −14.42% [95%CI: −36.5–7.66], −16.76% [95%CI: −40.81–7.29], −19.44% [95%CI: −46.7–7.82], respectively. Post-test differences (p ≤ 0.05) highlighted greater fatigue impact on RT, EA, and SS from guards to centers. Additionally, significant correlations (p ≤ 0.05) were found between the ventilatory threshold, mean HR during BEST, and changes in RT, EA, and SS. This study highlights the substantial impact of basketball-induced fatigue on 3-point shooting parameters across player positions and the interplay with cardiorespiratory factors post-fatigue. Tailored training, considering heart rate, is crucial to optimizing shooting performance.

Pre-exercise mangiferin–quercetin may enhance athletic performance. This study investigated the effect of mangiferin–quercetin supplementation on high-level male basketball players during a basketball exercise simulation test (BEST) comprising 24 circuits of 30 s activities with various movement distances. The participants were divided into two groups (EXP = 19 and CON = 19) and given a placebo one hour before the BEST (PRE-condition). The following week, the EXP group received mangiferin–quercetin (84 mg/140 mg), while the CON group received a placebo (POST-condition) before the BEST in a double-blind, cross-over design. The mean heart rate (HR) and circuit and sprint times (CT and ST) during the BEST were measured, along with the capillary blood lactate levels (La−), the subjective rating of muscle soreness (RPMS), and the perceived exertion (RPE) during a resting state prior to and following the BEST. The results showed significant interactions for the mean CT (p = 0.013) and RPE (p = 0.004); a marginal interaction for La− (p = 0.054); and non-significant interactions for the mean HR, mean ST, and RPMS. Moreover, the EXP group had significantly lower values in the POST condition for the mean CT (18.17 ± 2.08 s) and RPE (12.42 ± 1.02) compared to the PRE condition (20.33 ± 1.96 s and 13.47 ± 1.22, respectively) and the POST condition of the CON group (20.31 ± 2.10 s and 13.32 ± 1.16, respectively) (p < 0.05). These findings highlight the potential of pre-game mangiferin–quercetin supplementation to enhance intermittent high-intensity efforts in sports such as basketball.

This dataset aimed to explore associations between pre-SARS-CoV-2 infection exercise and sports-related physical activity (PA) levels and disease severity, along with treatments administered following the most recent SARS-CoV-2 infection. A comprehensive analysis investigated the relationships between PA categories (“Inactive”, “Low PA”, “Moderate PA”, “High PA”), disease severity (“Sporadic”, “Episodic”, “Recurrent”, “Frequent”, “Persistent”), and treatments post-SARS-CoV-2 infection (“No treatment”, “Home remedies”, “Prescribed medication”, “Hospital admission”, “Intensive care unit admission”) within a sample population (n = 5829) from the Hellenic territory. Utilizing the Active-Q questionnaire, data were collected from February to March 2023, capturing PA habits, participant characteristics, medical history, vaccination status, and illness experiences. Findings revealed an independent relationship between preinfection PA levels and disease severity (χ2 = 9.097, df = 12, p = 0.695). Additionally, a statistical dependency emerged between PA levels and illness treatment categories (χ2 = 39.362, df = 12, p < 0.001), particularly linking inactive PA with home remedies treatment. These results highlight the potential influence of preinfection PA on disease severity and treatment choices following SARS-CoV-2 infection. The dataset offers valuable insights into the interplay between PA, disease outcomes, and treatment decisions, aiding future research in shaping targeted interventions and public health strategies related to COVID-19 management.

This study investigated changes in physical activity (PA) after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection while considering age, PA level, underlying medical conditions (UMCs), vaccination profiles/types, re-infections, disease severity, and treatment. Data were collected from 5829 respondents by using a validated web-based questionnaire. The findings showed that there was a significant overall decrease in PA (−16.2%), including in daily occupation (−11.9%), transportation (−13.5%), leisure-time (−16.4%), and sporting (−27.6%) activities. Age, PA level, UMCs, vaccination profiles/types, disease severity, and treatment played a role in determining PA in individuals’ post-acute SARS-CoV-2 infections. Re-infections did not impact the decline in PA. Unvaccinated individuals experienced a significant decline in PA (−13.7%). Younger (−22.4%) and older adults (−22.5%), those with higher PA levels (−20.6%), those with 2–5 UMCs (−23.1%), those who were vaccinated (−16.9%) or partially vaccinated (−19.1%), those with mRNA-type vaccines only (−17.1%), those with recurrent (−19.4%)-to-persistent (−54.2%) symptoms, and those that required hospital (−51.8%) or intensive care unit (−67.0%) admission during their infections had more pronounced declines in PA. These findings emphasize the complex relationship between post-acute SARS-CoV-2 infection and PA and highlight the need for targeted interventions, further research, and multidisciplinary care to promote PA resumption and mitigate long-term effects on global public health.

Background: Our aims were to investigate the time-course effects of a futsal match on performance, oxidative stress, and muscle damage markers, as well as inflammatory and antioxidant responses during a 6-day post-match period. Methods: Thirty-four female high-level futsal players were assessed on several oxidative stress, inflammation, subjective muscle soreness, subjective rate perceived exertion, and performance tests before a futsal match, immediately after, and 24 h to 144 h after. Results: Counter movement jump, 20 m, and 10 m sprints performance significantly decreased immediately after the match (p < 0.05) and returned to baseline 72 h post-match (p > 0.05). Delayed onset muscle soreness peaked 24 h post-match and rate perceived exertion peaked post-match (p < 0.05) and returned to baseline 96 h post-match (p > 0.05). Inflammatory biomarkers peaked at 24 h (p < 0.05) and remained significantly elevated for 72 h after the match (p < 0.05). Muscle damage biomarkers peaked at 24 h (p < 0.05) and remained significantly (p < 0.05) elevated for at least 72 h after the match. Oxidative stress markers peaked at 24 h–48 h (p < 0.05) and returned to baseline 120 h post-match (p > 0.05). In respect to antioxidant responses, these peaked at 24 h–48 h post-match (p < 0.05) and returned to baseline 120 h after the match (p > 0.05). Conclusions: A single futsal match induces short/mid-term changes in performance, inflammation, oxidative stress, and muscle damage markers for about 72 h–96 h post-match.

The impact of lockdown on life style and behaviour have piqued the interest of people and scientific community, all over the world. It has been demonstrated that in some countries, mandatory stay-at-home limitations and self-isolation measures are linked to an increase in sleeping hours and smoking cigarettes per day. However, these results derive from countries that lockdown had different features and length, and it is possible that society, culture, customs, ecological or other factors may independently or in combination affect life style habits (such sleeping and smoking) in different populations. So, we focus on sleeping and smoking changes in Greek adults during the lockdown of early COVID-19 presence in Greece. Therefore, our aim was to investigate whether lockdown alters smoking and sleeping habits and whether physical activity (PA), gender, age or body mass index (BMI) play a role. The modified online-based Active-Q (Greek version) questionnaire (see Supplementary file 1_Active-Q_modyfied) was used to collect data prior to the COVID-19 pandemic (PRE condition) and during physical distancing and lockdown measures (POST condition). The data period collection was from April 4 to April 19, 2020 (15 days in total) and respondents classified into four PA categories based on their sporting activities (PRE condition), five age categories and four BMI categories, which corresponding to different subgroup. Overall, sleeping hours change (from PRE to POST condition) was 11.80% and smoking cigarettes per day change was 9.35%. However, it appears that between the different subgroups significant differences were also identified.

Jumping ability in basketball is usually assessed using standardized vertical jump tests. However, they lack specificity and do not consider the player’s basketball skills. Several studies have suggested performing specific jump tests, which are tailored to the movement patterns and requirements of a basketball game. The pivot step jump test (PSJT) is a novel test designed to evaluate the specific jumping abilities of basketball players by combining a pivot step on one leg with a maximum bilateral vertical jump. This study had two aims: to determine the reliability and validity of the PSJT using typical jump tests as the criterion measure and to demonstrate the PSJT as a practical test to evaluate specific jumping ability in young male and female basketball players. Twenty female (EGA; 14.0 ± 0.7 years, 59.3 ± 7.9 kg, 162.1 ± 5.5 cm) and fifteen male (EGB; 14.0 ± 0.7 years, 58.1 ± 7.7 kg, 170.3 ± 6.4 cm) basketball players participated in the study. The test–retest reliability of the PSJT within sessions (intrasession reliability) and across sessions (intersession reliability) was assessed within EGA. For the evaluation of validity, EGB performed the PSJT and a series of criterion jumping tests. For EGA, no changes (p > 0.05) were found in PSJT performance between test sessions and excellent intra- and intersession reliability was observed (ICCs > 0.75). Correlation coefficients indicated high factorial validity between the jumping tests and PSJT (r = 0.71–0.91, p < 0.001). The PSJT appears to offer a valid assessment of jumping ability in basketball and is a practical test for assessing sport-specific jumping skills in young basketball players.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a soccer small-sided game (SSG) on performance, inflammatory, muscle damage and hormonal indicators. Twenty-two male soccer players participated and were assigned to either experimental (EXP = 12) or control (CON = 10) groups. Subjective fatigue (RPE) and lactate (La¯) were measured during the SSG; vertical squat jump (SJ), 20-m sprint, creatine kinase (CK), interleukin-6 (IL-6), cortisol (C), and testosterone (T) were measured before (PRE), after (POST), 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h after the SSG in the EXP group. The heart rate during the SSG reached 92 ± 3% of their HRmax, whereas La¯ and RPE reached 13.02 ± 1.60 mmol·L−1 and 15 ± 1 after SSG, respectively. The IL-6, different among measurements (F (1.04, 11.50) = 504.82, p < 0.001), peaked (3.52 ± 0.43 pg·mL−1 [95%CI; 3.28–3.77]) after the SSG and returned to baseline 24 h later. The CK, different among measurements (F (1.76, 19.32) = 93.96, p < 0.001), peaked (536.58 ± 124.73U·L−1 [95%CI; 466.01–607.15]) 24 h after the SSG and remained significantly higher than PRE condition in POST and up to 72 h later. The T/C ratio, significantly different among measurements (F (1.73, 19.05) = 12.12, p < 0.001), was at its lowest (0.44 ± 0.16 [95%CI; 0.35–0.54]) immediately after the SSG (p < 0.05) and returned to baseline after 24 h. It seems that 48 h (at the most) after an SSG is adequate time for players to recover, and a high training load should be avoided sooner than 24 h after an SSG.

It was hypothesized that executing repeated maximum apnea efforts would improve performance in a subsequent time to exhaustion test. Indeed, in young moderately fit male subjects without former experience in apnea has been shown that five repeated apnea maximal efforts with face immersion in cold water (PEA) have advantageous effect to consecutive performance in a time to exhaustion ride without being further affected by apnea training of two weeks. So, in the current article, we describe, in details, the protocol procedure and the technical steps of the five maximum-repeated apnea maneuvers prior to a middle-distance racing in order to improve performance, from our previous relevant published research.

There is a worldwide interest in how lockdown affects physical activity (PA) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although it has been shown that the mandated stay-at-home restrictions and self-isolation measures applied in different countries were accosiated with a reduction in physical exercise and activity, such results derive from studying only specific periods of lockdown. However, in order for this hypothesis to be tested, consecutive lockdown periods need to be examined separately. In this study we focus on PA change in Greek adults over time, during each of the last four weeks of lockdown in Greece. The web-based Active-Q questionnaire (see Supplementary file 1_Active-Q) was used to collect data prior to the COVID-19 crisis (PRE condition) and during lockdown measures (POST condition). The period of data collection (5 April to 3 May 2020) was divided into four phases (Ph-I, Ph-II, Ph-III, Ph-V), corresponding to the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th lockdown week respectively (out of a six-week total lockdown). There were four independent groups of respondents (G-I, G-II, G-III, G-V) who reported their age, weight, height and usual PA habits. Energy expenditure (EE) was calculated (MET-min/week; see Supplementary file 2_Data) in four main different domains (daily occupation activities, means of transportation to and from daily occupation, leisure time and regular sporting activities; see Supplementary file 3_Corresponding MET values). Each group's dataset corresponded to one of the aforementioned phases (G-I to Ph-I, G-II to Ph-II, and so on). Overall PA change (from PRE to POST condition) ranged from -21.50% in G-I (Ph-I) to -5.03 in G-V (Ph-V); PA change in male subgroups ranged from -26.10% in Ph-I to -13.64 in Ph-V; in female subgroups it ranged from -17.42% in Ph-I to -1.39 in Ph-V. Although the decline in overall PA is evident in all groups during each lockdown phase (p

Carbohydrate (CHO) supplementation during prolonged exercise postpones fatigue. However, the optimum administration timing, dosage, type of CHO intake, and possible interaction of the ergogenic effect with athletes’ cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) are not clear. Ninety-six studies (from relevant databases based on predefined eligibility criteria) were selected for meta-analysis to investigate the acute effect of ≤20% CHO solutions on prolonged exercise performance. The between-subject standardized mean difference [SMD = ([mean post-value treatment group–mean post-value control group]/pooled variance)] was assessed. Overall, SMD [95% CI] of 0.43 [0.35, 0.51] was significant (p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that SMD was reduced as the subjects’ CRF level increased, with a 6–8% CHO solution composed of GL:FRU improving performance (exercise: 1–4 h); administration during the event led to a superior performance compared to administration before the exercise, with a 6–8% single-source CHO solution increasing performance in intermittent and ‘stop and start’ sports and an ~6% CHO solution appearing beneficial for 45–60 min exercises, but there were no significant differences between subjects’ gender and age groups, varied CHO concentrations, doses, or types in the effect measurement. The evidence found was sound enough to support the hypothesis that CHO solutions, when ingested during endurance exercise, have ergogenic action and a possible crossover interaction with the subject’s CRF.

Due to concerns regarding the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), major sporting events and activities have been temporarily suspended or postponed, and a new radical sports protocol has emerged. For most sports there are few recommendations based on scientific evidence for returning to team-game activities following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, the extended duration of lockdown, and self-training or detraining in the COVID-19 environment, and this is especially true for basketball. A post-lockdown return to the basketball court ultimately depends on the teams—coaches, trainers, players, and medical staff. Nevertheless, our current scientific knowledge is evidently insufficient as far as safety and return-to-play timing are concerned. This situation presents a major challenge to basketball competition in terms of organization, prioritization, maintaining physical fitness, and decision-making. While preparing an adequate basketball return program, the players’ health is the major priority. In this article we briefly discuss the topic and propose multiple strategies.

It is well known that physical inactivity increases the risk of global death; however, the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown strategy on physical activity (PA) remains unclear. This study compared PA—i.e., daily occupation, transportation to and from daily occupation, leisure time activities, and regular sporting activities—prior (PRE) and during (POST) the on-going COVID-19 outbreak in the Greece lockdown environment. A Greek version of the web-based Active-Q questionnaire was used to access PA. The questionnaire was filled out twice (once each for the PRE and POST conditions) by 8495 participants (age = 37.2 ± 0.2 years (95% confidence interval (CI), 36.9–37.5); males = 38.3% (95%CI, 36.7–40.0); females = 61.7% (95%CI, 60.4–63.0). The relative frequency of overall sporting activities, which, prior to lockdown, occurred at least once per month, and overall participation in competitive sports was significantly reduced (8.6% (95%CI, 7.9–9.3) and 84.7% (95%CI, 82.9–86.6) respectively). With the exception of overall leisure time activities, which were significantly increased in the POST condition, daily occupational, transportation, and sporting activities significant reduced (p < 0.05). Overall PA was reduced in all genders, age, body mass index (BMI) and PA level subgroups in the POST condition, and an interaction between the males and High PA subgroups was observed. The change in overall PA (from PRE to POST conditions) was −16.3% (95%CI, −17.3 to −15.4), while in daily occupational, transportation, and sporting activities, it was −52.9% (95%CI, −54.8–51.0), −41.1% (95%CI, −42.8–39.5) and −23.9% (95%CI, −25.1–22.8), respectively. Thus, the lockdown period is highly associated with a negative change in overall PA. During lockdown, inactivity increased dramatically, with males and the high PA population affected significantly more. The decline in PA is a great concern due to possible long-term consequences on public health and healthcare system.