He comes to a similar conclusion as Veit: “Compared to the infections of the upper respiratory tract that are otherwise common in athletes, a somewhat more comprehensive medical clarification should be considered before ‘Return to Sport’ in the case of Covid-19 due to the possible multi-organ involvement , physical examination, determination of selected blood parameters and a resting ECG recommended.”
Dealing with the Nordic combined Eric Frenzel questionable
Against this background, the handling of the Nordic combined athlete Eric Frenzel, who tested positive at the beginning of the Olympic Games and started again at his own request immediately after negative tests, must also be questioned.
For Frenzel, there were only three days between being released from quarantine and starting in the relay, with the result that the German slumped in the second half of the five kilometers. After his relay assignment (Germany still won the silver medal), Frenzel said that he had been physically active in eleven days of quarantine: “I was on the ergometer, walking around the room and doing a little yoga to keep the body limber and fit.”
A procedure that Veit would rather advise against according to his findings. “I have advised my athletes – regardless of whether they had symptoms or not – to give up sports completely. If the body has to deal with the virus, no sports should be done.” And he emphasizes: “It takes an average of ten days for an athlete to be able to start training again after the quarantine. The return-to-play protocol has different levels: If I don’t find any abnormalities in the blood and in the resting ECG, there are no symptoms , then it makes little sense to wait four weeks after the quarantine. After the quarantine, the athlete should only go for a walk first, then jog a little for a short period of time.”
Handball EM was a very bad example
Veit clearly criticizes the common practice at the European Handball Championship in January, when players suffering from Corona were immediately sent back to the table after only mild symptoms: “The risk would be far too great for me. I would look after the athletes differently. It’s bad luck if you get infected, but prefer the safe route – even at the risk of missing an important tournament or even the Olympic Games.”
dr Felix Post, chief physician for internal medicine/cardiology at the Koblenz-Montabaur Clinic, points out that the precautionary measures should be extended to all amateur sports. “Sometimes they train just as hard as professionals and in the lower classes the stress during a game is often no less.“
But Post knows the problem: “If I, as a patient, want a check-up with a cardiologist, I often have to wait six months for an appointment.”
Amateurs in particular should beware of false ambition
The former team doctor of 1. FSV Mainz 05 recommends a consultation with a doctor and a physical examination after recovering from corona disease. “What I also find useful is a check of the oxygen saturation – you can check that with a finger clip and it costs little money – an ECG and a look at the blood parameters. If, for example, troponin (protein building blocks that occur in the muscle cells of the heart, note . d. Red.) is elevated, this could indicate cardiac involvement.”
In general, the physicians follow the German Society for Sports Medicine and Prevention (DGSP), which recommends a break of at least two weeks even in the case of asymptomatic courses. Veit also concludes: “If in doubt, go back one or two steps. I think this message is important, where the epidemic is currently taking place in Germany. Every athlete should rather be examined beforehand – even if you only go to the doctor to be listened to and advised. I can’t put every hobby athlete on a stress ECG, an ultrasound and, if in doubt, an MRI of the heart.”
For this reason: “I simply advise caution, without spreading panic.” Amateur athletes should simply beware of false ambition.