The present study analyzed the impact of the running style and the morphologic and functional characteristics of the foot on the incidence of non-traumatic foot and lower limb disorders in runners. From January 2004 to December 2008, we prospectively examined 166 runners, both recreational and competitive, involved in various running specialities, from three athletics clubs in Northern Italy. T...

PURPOSE To determine the effect of oral contraceptives (OC) on bone mass and stress fracture incidence in young female distance runners. METHODS One hundred fifty competitive female runners ages 18-26 yr were randomly assigned to OC (30 microg of ethinyl estradiol and 0.3 mg of norgestrel) or control (no intervention) for 2 yr. Bone mineral density (BMD) and content (BMC) were measured yearly...

BACKGROUND Cardiac arrest and sudden death during distance-running events have been reported but other medical complications, including serious life-threatening complications have not been well described. OBJECTIVE To document the incidence and nature of medical complications during 21 and 56 km running races. DESIGN Prospective study. SETTING Two Oceans Marathon races (21 and 56 km races...

OBJECTIVES To study factors affecting the occurrence of exercise induced bronchospasm (EIB) in elite runners. METHODS Fifty eight elite runners, 79% of them belonging to Finnish national teams, volunteered. The athletes answered a questionnaire on respiratory symptoms. Skin prick tests were used to investigate atopy, and spirometry to examine lung function at rest and after an exercise challe...

background: heavy exercise cause muscle damage associated with production of inflammatory agents. the purpose of present study was to determine the effect of acute and 14-day coenzyme q10 supplementation on inflammatory, blood lactate and muscle damage in male middle-distance runners.   methods : eighteen male middle-distance runners in a randomized and quasi experimental study were allocated i...

OBJECTIVE This study was undertaken to evaluate to what extent C-reactive protein (CRP) can be reduced by exercise by examining its circulating concentrations in male ultramarathon runners and to determine if low leptin as a robust circulating marker of fat mass could account for low CRP in such men. METHODS AND RESULTS Sixty-seven male ultramarathon runners and 63 sedentary male controls of ...

PURPOSE To develop and evaluate a questionnaire that quantifies the self-reported frequency, duration and severity of illness symptoms in highly-trained athletes. We examined whether runners had more symptoms than recreationally-active individuals, and whether runners more prone to illness were undertaking more strenuous training programs. METHODS A daily illness questionnaire was administere...

Exercise increases the production of reactive oxygen species, which may damage a number of cell constituents. Organisms have developed a sophisticated antioxidant system for protection against reactive oxygen species. Our aim was to compare the adaptive responses of antioxidant mechanisms and the blood redox status of two groups of athletes, long-distance and short-distance runners. Thiobarbitu...

BACKGROUND Ultramarathon is a high endurance exercise associated with a wide range of exercise-related problems, such as acute kidney injury (AKI). Early recognition of individuals at risk of AKI during ultramarathon event is critical for implementing preventative strategies. OBJECTIVES To investigate the impact of speed variability to identify the exercise-related acute kidney injury anticip...