The impact of the Spartathlon ultramarathon race on athletes' plantar pressure patterns.

More than 90% of injuries in runners are recorded in the lower extremity, equally affecting the regions of the knee, shank, and foot. Stress fractures are responsible for numerous running-related injuries. In the current study, the plantar pressure patterns of prerace, immediately postrace, and 24 hours after long-distance running in the Spartathlon were analyzed to compare foot loading in the respective conditions. Forty-six male participants of the Spartathlon ultramarathon were examined before, immediately after completion of the race, and 24 hours later with plantar pressure measurements during barefoot walking on a capacitive platform. The results revealed a significant increase in the peak pressure and impulse values in the forefoot areas and a decrease under the toes before and immediately after the race. On the contrary, no significant differences were found between the prerace and the 24-hour postrace values. The present findings indicate that the Spartathlon race leads to significant variations in foot-loading characteristics, especially in the peak pressure and impulse values under the forefoot and toe regions. Twenty-four-hour postrace data measurements reveal insignificant differences from the prerace statement, probably because of the restoration of local muscular activity.

Exercise-induced arterial adaptations in elite judo athletes.

The purpose of this study was to examine exercise-induced arterial adaptations in elite Judo male and female athletes. 27 male Judo athletes (age 24.06 ± 2 years), 11 female Judoka (age 24.27 ± 1 years), 27 sedentary healthy men (age 24.01 ± 2 years) and 11 women (age 24.21 ± 1 years) participated in the current study. The examined vessels included brachial, radial, ulnar, popliteal, anterior and posterior tibial arteries. The experimental parameters were recorded with the use of Duplex ultrasound at rest. Diastolic diameter and blood mean flow velocity of the examined arteries in Judo athletes were found to be both significantly increased (p < 0.05) compared to the findings of the control groups. In male Judo athletes the brachial (p < 0.001), radial (p < 0.001), and anterior tibial artery (p < 0.001) presented the highest difference on the diastolic diameter, compared with the control male group. In female Judo athletes, ulnar (p < 0.001), radial (p < 0.001), and brachial (p < 0.001) arteries illustrated the highest diastolic diameter. The highest blood mean flow velocity was recorded in ulnar (p < 0.001) and popliteal arteries (p < 0.001) of the Judo athletes groups. Recording differences between the two genders, male participants presented larger arteries than females. Conclusively, Judo has been found to be a highly demanding physical sport, involving upper and lower limbs leading to significant arterial adaptations. Obtaining vascular parameters provide a useful tool to the medical team, not only in the direction of enhancement of the efficacy of physical training, but in unknown so far parameters that may influence athletic performance of both male and female elite Judokas. Key pointsJudo athletes demonstrated a general homogenous increase of the arterial functionality of the upper and lower limbs compared to the control groups.Diastolic diameter found to be significantly increased in male and female Judo athletes, highlighting the effects of exercise training on the vascular system.Judo athletes had had statistically significant increase of the blood mean flow velocity in all examined arteries, compared with the relevant control group.The current study underscores the impact of Judo training on the structure and the function of the arterial system.Clinically, the increased arterial parameters in elite Judo athletes may be essential elements for improved athletic performance.Sports medicine practitioners should give special concern to the vascular functionality for several physiological and medical tests.