Achilles Tendinopathy, Calf Injury, Lower Limb Injury, Sport Injury
Conditions
Brief summary
This study aimed to assess the longitudinal changes in triceps surae muscle-tendon architecture to an ultra distance trail running. Experienced trail runners (N=55, 78% men, age: 45.2 \[13.5\] years) participated in a 156-km trail run (6000m climbing) consisting in six 26-km laps. The resting architectural properties of triceps surae muscle-tendon were measured using ultrasound imaging for Achille tendon cross-sectional area (AT CSA), medial gastrocnemius muscle pennation angle, thickness, length and fiber length. Measurements were performed the day before the race (Baseline), at 52-km (T1), at 104-km (T2), at 156-km (T3) and 12 hours after the race (H12).
Interventions
DIAGNOSTIC_TESTUltrasound measurement of triceps surae muscle-tendon architecture
The resting plantar-flexors MTU architecture assessment was performed using a conventional B-mode and extended-field-of-view (EFOV) ultrasound imaging. Achille tendon cross-sectionnal area, Medial gastrocnemius thickness, pennation angle, fascicle length and muscle length were collected on the dominant lower limb.
Sponsors
University Hospital, Caen
Study design
Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
25 Years to 70 Years
Inclusion criteria
* Experienced runners voluntarily participating in the Trail Scientifique de Clécy (156 km/6000 D+) * Participants who had already completed 2 ultratrail races (+160 km and -160 km), at least one of them in the past 24 months; the participants had to justify their events and rankings * Participants affiliated with a social security system or those who were a beneficiary of such a system * Participants who could speak and read the French language * Participants with the ability to physically participate in the ultraendurance race * Participants with the ability to provide written consent for participation in the study
Exclusion criteria
* Participants with cardiac or extracardiac contraindications to intense physical activity * Participants who had run a mountain ultramarathon (160 km) after September 2, 2021 * Pregnant or breastfeeding women * Minor participants * Participants included in another biomedical research protocol during this study * Participants with recent muscular and orthopedic injuries, limiting running for \<15 days * Participants with a history of ankle joint surgery (eg, arthrodesis) * Participants with a history of foot or ankle surgery * Participants with lower-limb pathology or trauma
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Medial gastrocnemius thickness | Five time points: (1) at baseline, the day before the 156-km race, (2) during the race, at 52-km, (3) during the race, at 104-km, (4) immediately after the race, at 156-km and (5) at 12-hours after arrival. | Medial gastrocnemius thickness was measured at the inferior third of muscle llength (in mm) using B mode ultrasound imaging |
| Medial gastrocnemius fascicle length | Five time points: (1) at baseline, the day before the 156-km race, (2) during the race, at 52-km, (3) during the race, at 104-km, (4) immediately after the race, at 156-km and (5) at 12-hours after arrival. | Medial gastrocnemius fascicle length was calculated under the assumption of linearity as Fascicle Lnegth = Muscle Thickness / sin (Pennation angle) measured at the inferior third of muscle length (calculated in mm) using B mode ultrasound imaging |
| Medial gastrocnemius muscle length | Five time points: (1) at baseline, the day before the 156-km race, (2) during the race, at 52-km, (3) during the race, at 104-km, (4) immediately after the race, at 156-km and (5) at 12-hours after arrival. | Medial gastrocnemius muscle length was measured using an extended-field-of-view (EFOV) ultrasound imaging |
| Achille tendon cross sectional area | Five time points: (1) at baseline, the day before the 156-km race, (2) during the race, at 52-km, (3) during the race, at 104-km, (4) immediately after the race, at 156-km and (5) at 12-hours after arrival. | Mid-portion Achille tendon cross sectional area was measured (in mm²) using B mode ultrasound imaging |
| Medial gastrocnemius pennation angle | Five time points: (1) at baseline, the day before the 156-km race, (2) during the race, at 52-km, (3) during the race, at 104-km, (4) immediately after the race, at 156-km and (5) at 12-hours after arrival. | Medial gastrocnemius pennation angle was measured at the inferior third of muscle llength (in °) using B mode ultrasound imaging |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Average speed | Four time point (1) during the race, at 52-km, (2) during the race, at 104-km, (3) during the race, at 156-km and (4) for the whole race. | Average speed was calculated using the time per lap and distance for each lap |
| Finisher status | One time point, after the race | Participants were classifioed as Finishers or Did not finish whether they completed the 156-km race, or not |
Countries
France
Outcome results
None listed