The effect of different physical therapy procedures in ultramarathons

Abstract Aims: To analyze the effects of physical therapy procedures in reducing acute pain in runners. A second aim was to investigate the impact of weather conditions on the number of physical therapy visits during the Ultramarathon Rio24 h. Methods: This retrospective study was performed at the Physical Education Center Admiral Adalberto Nunes (CEFAN). Medical records were analyzed. The participants were athletes that were attended by the Physical therapy team during three editions of the Ultramarathon Rio24 h. The variation in the Visual Analog Scale score (VAS) before and after each treatment were analyzed. After the evaluation procedure, another professional had decided the best procedure for the assessed athlete: massotherapy, cryotherapy by immersion, or stretching. An ANOVA was performed to assess which procedures produce pain reduction immediately after the procedure. Results: A total of 1,995 care services (228 in women) were performed in 602 athletes (84 women). Analyzing the treatments that used only one modality (n = 512 visits), the final pain decreased significantly over the initial pain for the three treatments. It was verified that massotherapy, cryotherapy, and stretching promote significant intragroup differences, with no intergroup differences. The environmental conditions were not associated with the number of visits. Conclusion: Massotherapy, cryotherapy, and stretching are effective treatments for acute pain reduction during ultramarathons. The weather conditions are not associated with the number of physical therapy visits.

VO2máx estimado e sua velocidade correspondente predizem o desempenho de corredores amadores / Estimated VO2max and its corresponding velocity predict performance of amateur runners

Observa-se, nos últimos anos, um importante crescimento do número de praticantes de corrida com proporcional aumento da adesão destes às provas de rua. Nesta população, a identificação dos determinantes do desempenho parece ser necessária para otimização do tempo dedicado ao treinamento. O objetivo do estudo foi estabelecer a associação do consumo máximo de oxigênio (VO2máx) estimado, da velocidade crítica (VC) e da velocidade do VO2máx (V VO2máx), com os desempenhos nas provas de 3,6 km em subida e 10 e 21,1 km no plano. Doze corredores amadores (9 homens) com 36 ± 5 anos de idade foram submetidos a quatro testes: 1 e 5 km de corrida, no plano; 3,6 km de corrida, com inclinação (≈8 por cento); e um teste para determinação indireta do VO2máx. A VC foi determinada através da relação linear entre a distância e o tempo de corrida dos dois primeiros testes. Os sujeitos participaram de duas provas oficiais de 10 km e 21,1 km. A V VO2máx foi estimada a partir do VO2máx, através de equações metabólicas. O VO2máx apresentou a melhor associação com o desempenho da corrida em 10 e 21,1 km no plano. Já na subida, a V VO2máx apresentou melhor associação. Considerando todas as provas, a variável com maior média associativa foi o VO2máx (0,91±0,07), seguido do V VO2máx (0,90±0,04) e VC (0,87±0,06), respectivamente. Este estudo demonstrou elevadas associações entre variáveis fisiológicas estabelecidas por métodos indiretos, de baixo investimento e alta praticidade, com o desempenho da corrida em 10 e 21,1 km, no plano, e 3,6 km, em subida.

In recent years, there has been a substantial increase in the number of runners, with a proportional increase in their involvement in amateur street competition. Identification of the determinants of performance in this population appears necessary for optimization of time devoted to training. The objective of this study was to ascertain the association between estimated maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), critical velocity (CV) and VO2max velocity (V VO2max) and athletic performance in the 3.6 km (uphill) and 10 and 21.1 km (flatland) events. Twelve amateur runners (nine male), mean age 36 ± 5 years underwent five tests: 1 and 5 km race on level ground, 3.6 km race with slope (≈8 percent), and indirect VO2max measurement. CV was determined from the linear relationship between distance and run time on the first two tests. The subjects then took part in two official 10 km and 21.1 km (half marathon) races. V VO2max was calculated from the VO2max through a metabolic equation. VO2max showed the best association with running performance in the 10 and 21.1 km events. For the uphill race, V VO2max showed a better association. Overall, the variable with the highest average association was VO2max (0.91±0.07), followed by V VO2max (0.90±0.04) and VC (0.87±0.06). This study showed strong associations between physiological variables established by low-cost, user-friendly indirect methods and running performance in the 10 and 21.1 km (flatland) and 3.6 km (uphill) running events.