Impact of marathon performance on muscles stiffness in runners over 50 years old

Krzysztof Mackala; Dariusz Mroczek; Paweł Chmura; Marek Konefał; Damian Pawlik; Bartosz Ochman; Jan Chmura; Bartłomiej Paleczny; Rafał Seredyński; Małgorzata Wyciszkiewicz; Adrianna Nowicka-Czudak; Wojciech Łopusiewicz; Dorota Adamiec; Szczepan Wiecha; Piotr Ponikowski; Beata Ponikowska

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1069774

Impact of marathon performance on muscles stiffness in runners over 50 years old

Front Psychol. 2023 Feb 24:14:1069774. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1069774. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Krzysztof Mackala¹, Dariusz Mroczek², Paweł Chmura³, Marek Konefał², Damian Pawlik², Bartosz Ochman⁴, Jan Chmura², Bartłomiej Paleczny⁵, Rafał Seredyński⁵, Małgorzata Wyciszkiewicz⁵, Adrianna Nowicka-Czudak⁴, Wojciech Łopusiewicz⁵, Dorota Adamiec⁵, Szczepan Wiecha⁶, Piotr Ponikowski⁷, Beata Ponikowska⁸

Affiliations

¹ Department of Track and Field, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland.
² Department of Human Motor Skills, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland.
³ Department of Sport Team Games, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland.
⁴ Department of Physiology, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland.
⁵ Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.
⁶ Department of Physical Education and Health in Biala Podlaska, Faculty in Biala Podlaska, The Jozef Pilsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Biala Podlaska, Poland.
⁷ Department of Heart Diseases, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.
⁸ Center for Heart Diseases, University Hospital in Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland.

Abstract

Introduction: The research examines the relationship between marathon performance and muscle stiffness changes from pre to marathon in recreational runners aged 50+ years.

Methods: Thirty-one male long-distance runners aged 50-73 years participated in the experiment. The muscle stiffness of quadriceps and calves was measured in two independent sessions: the day before the marathon and 30 min after the completed marathon run using a Myoton device.

Results and discussion: The 42.195-km run was completed in 4.30,05 h ± 35.12 min, which indicates an intensity of 79.3% ± 7.1% of HRmax. The long-term, low-intensity running exercise (marathon) in older recreational runners and the low level of HRmax and VO2max showed no statistically significant changes in muscle stiffness (quadriceps and calves). There was reduced muscle stiffness (p = 0.016), but only in the triceps of the calf in the dominant (left) leg. Moreover, to optimally evaluate the marathon and adequately prepare for the performance training program, we need to consider the direct and indirect analyses of the running economy, running technique, and HRmax and VO2max variables. These variables significantly affect marathon exercise.

Keywords: endurance performance; marathon; muscle stiffness; older-age runners; running economy; sport.