Effects of Ultratrail Running on Neuromuscular Function, Muscle Damage and Hydration Status. Differences According to Training Level

Abstract

The status of trail running races has exponentially grown in recent years. The present study aimed to: (a) evaluate the acute response of ultratrail racing in terms of neuromuscular function, muscle damage and hydration status; (b) analyze if responses could differ according to training levels. Twenty runners participated in the present study. The participants were divided into amateur training level (n = 10; 43.30 ± 4.52 years) or high level competitors (n = 10; 41.40 ± 6.18). Neuromuscular response (squat jump, countermovement jump and Abalakov jump), muscle damage (alanine aminotransferase, bilirubin, creatine kinase and leukocytes) and hydration status (sodium and creatinine) were evaluated before and after the Guara Somontano Ultratrail Race (108 km distance, with an accumulated slope of 5800 m). The height and power achieved by vertical jumps were lower after the race (p < 0.001). The post-race muscle damage and creatinine parameters increased in both groups (p < 0.001). The high-level group obtained lower percentages of change in squat jump and countermovement jump than the amateur-level group (p < 0.05). However, the increase in creatinine was greater for the high-level group (p < 0.05). Ultratrail racing reduces neuromuscular function and increases muscle damage. High-level runners showed less neuromuscular fatigue compared to amateur ones.

768-km Multi-Stage Ultra-Trail Case Study-Muscle Damage, Biochemical Alterations and Strength Loss on Lower Limbs

“…For the parameters of neuromuscular function, significant reductions in the height of the jumps have been reported in the scientific literature [ 7 , 21 , 27 , 44 ]. In this sense, both Martínez Navarro et al and Balducci et al reported decreases in flight height in the use of isolated tests of the Bosco jump protocol, both for SJ (pre = 24.4 ± 4.1 vs. post = 18.4 ± 42.2) [ 42 ] and for CMJ (pre = 30 ± 0.6 vs. post = 24 ± 0.5 cm) [ 43 ] respectively.…”

“…It is also worth mentioning a more recent study about induced muscle fatigue that also describes losses in SJ, ABA and CMJ in pre and post-race situations. [ 7 ]. In the present study, we found that the flight height of SJ, CMJ and ABA decreased in the post-race and also during the recovery period (see Table 4 ).…”

“…Despite this evidence concerning the production of CK and the loss in flight height in a post situation, this is a conclusion that could not be fully contrasted by not taking into account the possible differences between runners (characterization of genetic subject-by-subject basis) [ 48 ] and, above all, by not considering the level of training of the study sample analyzed [ 7 , 21 , 49 ]. These considerations, together with the fact that our analysis test was a multi-stage race and the fact that our study sample was composed of subjects with similar levels of training and physical condition, mean that it could be the consequence of not obtaining relationships in the rest of the biomarkers analyzed for the losses in the capacity of fair contractile after the end of the event.…”

“…Acute fatigue induced by physical demand of this type of effort is associated with a relevant modification of biochemical parameters that could result in inaccurate diagnosis [ 6 ]. The fact that this type of sport discipline requires participants to repeat cyclical movements for very long periods means that episodes of elevation of markers typical of worrying physiological situations have been described, such as acute kidney damage or post-exertion hyponatremia [ 4 , 7 ]. The biochemical alterations should also be taken into account related to myocellular morphological modifications associated with protein breakdown [ 8 ], which in addition to generating a biochemical alteration, causes the loss of contractile function and a decrease in the levels of muscle strength in the runner [ 9 ].…”

“…The high negative elevation that defines this type of racing offers an opportunity to investigate the relationship between possible alterations in the ability to produce muscle strength and its possible relationship with ER. Several studies have shown that some biomarkers related to ER considerably increased their value during the race compared to baseline and are even maintained a few days after the end of the effort [ 19 ], in addition, they have a clear relationship with strength loss in lower limbs by the athlete [ 7 , 21 , 24 ]. Peake et al determined that this loss in strength capacity is due to pathophysiological alterations such as modifications in contractile muscle activation, muscle morphology of the athlete or the type of contraction to which the athlete is subjected to [ 25 ].…”