Pulmonary and Inspiratory Muscle Function Response to a Mountain Ultramarathon

Ignacio Martinez-Navarro; Eladio Collado; Bárbara Hernando; Carlos Hernando

doi:10.52082/jssm.2021.706

Pulmonary and Inspiratory Muscle Function Response to a Mountain Ultramarathon

J Sports Sci Med. 2021 Oct 1;20(4):706-713. doi: 10.52082/jssm.2021.706. eCollection 2021 Dec.

Authors

Ignacio Martinez-Navarro^{1

2}, Eladio Collado³, Bárbara Hernando⁴, Carlos Hernando^{5

6}

Affiliations

¹ Physical Education and Sports Department, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
² Sports Health Unit, Vithas 9 de Octubre Hospital, Valencia, Spain.
³ Faculty of Health Sciences, Jaume I University, Castellon, Spain.
⁴ Department of Medicine, Jaume I University, Castellon, Spain.
⁵ Sport Service, Jaume I University, Castellon, Spain.
⁶ Department of Education and Specific Didactics, Jaume I University, Castellon, Spain.

Abstract

The study aimed to provide within-race data on the time course of pulmonary function during a mountain ultramarathon (MUM). Additionally, we wanted to assess possible sex differences regarding pre- to post-race change in pulmonary and inspiratory muscle function. Lastly, we were interested in evaluating whether changes in respiratory function were associated with relative running speed and due to general or specific fatigue. 47 athletes (29 males and 18 females; 41 ± 5 years) were submitted to a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) before a 107-km MUM. Spirometric variables: forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), FEV₁/FVC and peak expiratory flow (PEF); maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP); squat jump (SJ) and handgrip strength (HG) were assessed before and after the race. Additionally PEF was measured at three aid stations (33^rd, 66^th and 84^th km) during the race. PEF declined from the 33^rd to the 66^th km (p = 0.004; d = 0.72) and from the 84^th km to the finish line (p = 0.003; d = 0.90), while relative running speed dropped from the first (0-33 km) to the second (33-66 km) race section (p < 0.001; d = 1.81) and from the third (66-84 km) to the last race section (p < 0.001; d = 1.61). Post-race, a moderate reduction was noted in FVC (-13%; p < 0.001; d = 0.52), FEV₁ (-19.5%; p < 0.001; d = 0.65), FEV₁/FVC (-8.4%; p = 0.030; d = 0.59), PEF (-20.3%; p < 0.001; d = 0.58), MIP (-25.3%; p < 0.001; d = 0.79) and SJ (-31.6%; p < 0.001; d = 1.42). Conversely, HG did not change from pre- to post-race (-1.4%; p = 0.56; d = 0.05). PEF declined during the race in parallel with running speed drop. No sex differences were noted regarding post-race respiratory function, except that FEV₁/FVC decay was significantly greater among women. The magnitude of pre- to post-race respiratory function decline was uncorrelated with relative running speed.

Keywords: Maximal inspiratory pressure; cardiopulmonary exercise test; peak expiratory flow; performance; ultraendurance.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Female
Forced Expiratory Volume
Hand Strength*
Humans
Lung* / physiology
Male
Muscles
Vital Capacity / physiology