The Impact of the German Strategy for Containment of Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 on Training Characteristics, Physical Activity and Sleep of Highly Trained Kayakers and Canoeists: A Retrospective Observational Study.

To characterize the impact of the German strategy for containment of Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (social distancing and lockdown) on the training, other habitual physical activity, and sleep in highly trained kayakers and canoeists. During the 4 weeks immediately prior to and following the beginning of the German government's strategy for containment of Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 on March 23, 2020, 14 highly trained athletes (VO: 3,162 ± 774 ml/min; 500-m best time: 117.9 ± 7.9 s) wore a multi-sensor smartwatch to allow continuous assessment of heart rate, physical activity, and sleep duration. In comparison to before lockdown, the overall weekly training time and the average length of each session of training during the lockdown decreased by 27.6% ( = 0.02; = 0.91) and 15.4% ( = 0.36; = 0.36), respectively. At the same time, the number of sessions involving specific (i.e., canoeing and kayaking) and non-specific (i.e., running, cycling) training, respectively, did not change ( = 0.36-0.37; = 0.34-0.35). The number of sessions involving strength (+17.4%; = 0.03; = 0.89) or other types of training (+16.7%; = 0.06; = 0.75) increased during the lockdown with 2.8-17.5% more training time involving a heart rate <60%, 82-88, 89-93, or 94-100% of individual peak heart rate (HR) ( = 0.03-0.86; = 0.07-1.38), and 4.3-18.7% less time with a heart rate of 60-72 or 73-83% HR ( = < 0.001-0.0.26; = 0.44-2.24). The daily duration of sleep was ~30 min (6.7%) longer during the lockdown ( < 0.001; = 1.53) and the overall time spent lying down was 17% greater ( < 0.001; = 2.26); whereas sitting time (-9.4%; = 0.003; = 1.23), the duration of light (15 min; -7.3%; = 0.04; = 0.83), and moderate (-18.6%; = 0.01; = 1.00) physical activity other than training (-9.4%; = 0.22; = 0.00) were all lower during lockdown. The present data revealed that following the German lockdown for containment of the Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, highly trained kayakers and canoeists spent less overall time training each week (-27.6%) with, on average, shorter training sessions (-15.1%) and less light-to-moderate physical activity outside of training. Moreover, they performed more strength training sessions per week, and all engaged in more training at intensities >82 and <60% of HR and spent longer periods lying down and sleeping during the lockdown.