Abstract
The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of 1- and 2-day adventure races on cardiac muscle damage and skeletal muscle soreness and function in young athletes. Twelve male trained adolescents (14–15 years) completed both 1-day (48.2 km) and 2-day (66.0 km) races that included trail running, mountain biking, kayaking, and in-line skating separated by 10 weeks. Myocardial damage biomarker concentrations (cTnI and CK-MB), maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) torque, perceived knee extensor (KE) muscle soreness (PMS), and drop and squat jump heights were measured before and after each race. Heart rate was also monitored throughout. Mean heart rate (% cardiac reserve) was higher during the 1-day (66.6 ± 6.4%) than 2-day (62.6 ± 7.8%, p = 0.038) race. The amplitude of cardiac damage biomarker release was also higher following the 1-day than the 2-day race (peak cTnI: 0.14 vs. 0.03 ng/mL, p = 0.045; peak CK-MB: 20.30 vs. 11.98 ng/mL, p = 0.020). However, cardiac biomarker concentrations returned to baseline at 24–48 h post-exercise, except for CK-MB after the 2-day race (p = 0.017). Eight and three participants exceeded the cTnI cut-off for myocardial injury in 1- and 2-day races, respectively, but none exceeded the cut-off for acute myocardial infarction. While there was a significant decrease in drop jump height (−5.9%, p = 0.003), MVIC torque and squat jump height remained unchanged after both races. PMS was increased at 24 h after both races (p < 0.001) but returned to baseline levels by 72 h post-race. In conclusion, the shorter, more intense race produced more cardiac damage, although this probably represents a standard exercise intensity-dependent response rather than pathological response. Skeletal muscle functional and soreness responses were moderate and similar between races.
Highlights
IntroductionOver the last two decades, participation in long-duration adventure races ( called “wilderness multisport endurance events”) has become increasingly popular both in adolescents and adults
Over the last two decades, participation in long-duration adventure races has become increasingly popular both in adolescents and adults
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of mixed-modality, long-duration adventure races during fieldbased competitions on cardiac and skeletal muscle responses in adolescent male athletes and to determine whether these effects differed as a function of race duration (1-day race vs. 2-day race)
Summary
Over the last two decades, participation in long-duration adventure races ( called “wilderness multisport endurance events”) has become increasingly popular both in adolescents and adults. While clear scientific evidence is not yet available, these consequences might be expected to be greater during longduration adventure races in adolescents compared to adults This assumption is supported by the work of Tian et al (2012) showing higher post-exercise peak troponin T (cTnT) concentrations after a 90-min treadmill run at 95% of the ventilatory threshold in 14-year-old adolescents than 24-yearold adults. This finding could be ascribed to the fact that at maximal exercise intensities, heart rate and total peripheral vascular resistance are higher in adolescents than adults while stroke volume and cardiac output are lower (Turley, 1997). The effect of race format (event duration vs. intensity) on the magnitude and temporal kinetics of cardiac damage biomarker release after longduration adventure races (>4 h) in young adolescents remains to be demonstrated, during field-based (rather than simulated, laboratory-based) competitions
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