Endurance athletes alternate periods of intensive physical training with periods of rest and recovery to improve performance. An imbalance caused by overly intensive training and Inadequate recovery leads to a breakdown in tissue reparative mechanisms and eventually to overuse injuries. Tendon overuse injury is degenerative rather than inflammatory. Tendinopathy is often slow to resolve and responds inconsistently to anti-inflammatory agents. Common overuse injuries in runners and other endurance athletes include patellofemoral pain syndrome, iliotibial band friction syndrome, medial tibial stress syndrome, Achilles tendinopathy, plantar fasciitis, and lower extremity stress fractures. These injuries are treated with relative rest, usually accompanied by a rehabilitative exercise program. Cyclists may benefit from evaluation on their bicycles and subsequent adjustment of seat height, cycling position, or pedal system. Endurance athletes also are susceptible to exercise-associated medical conditions, including exercise-induced asthma, exercise-associated collapse, and overtraining syndrome. These conditions are treatable or preventable with appropriate medical intervention. Dilutional hyponatremia is increasingly encountered in athletes participating in marathons and triathlons. This condition is related to overhydration with hypotonic fluids and may be preventable with guidance on appropriate fluid intake during competition. Cosca DD, Navazio F. Common problems in endurance athletes. Am Fam Physician. 2007 Jul 15;76(2):237-44. Full text […]
Lees verderGelezen: Common problems in endurance athletes
Gelezen: Food intake and electrolyte status of ultramarathoners competing in extreme heat
Objective: To relate changes in laboratory indices to dietary intake during extremely prolonged running and to determine if dietary intake influences the ability of runners to finish an 160 km trail race. Methods: We monitored intake and serum chemistries of 26 runners competing in an 160 km foot race in temperatures which peaked at 38 degrees C. Blood was drawn pre-, mid- and post-race. Dietary intake and incidence of gastrointestinal distress or changes in mental status were determined by interview with runners approximately every 13 km. Twenty-three runners completed at least 88 kms and, of these 23 runners, 13 finished 160 km in a mean time of 26.2 +/- 3.6 hours. Results: Finishers ingested nearly 30,000 J, 19.4 +/- 8.1 L of fluid and 16.4 +/- 9.5 g of sodium (Na). Sodium and fluid intake per hour was estimated to be 0.6 g/hour and 0.7 L/hour, respectively. Electrolyte intake during the first half of the race was similar between those that finished the race and those that did not. Finishers ingested fluid at a greater rate than non-finishers (p = 0.01) and tended to meet their caloric needs more closely than did non-finishers (p = 0.09). Body weight was unchanged […]
Lees verder