Rosado JO1,2,3,4, Duarte JA1,5, Sousa-e-Silva P2,6, Costa D2,6, Martinho D2,6, Duarte J2,6, Valente-dos-Santos J6,7,8, Sarmento H2,6, Rama L2,6, Tavares Ó3, Conde J3, Castanheira J3, Gonçalves RS3,9, Coelho-e-Silva MJ2,6
1University of Porto, Faculty of Sport, Porto, Portugal, 2University of Coimbra, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, Coimbra, Portugal, 3Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, Coimbra Health School, Coimbra, Portugal, 4Diocesan Caritas of Coimbra, Rainha Santa Isabel Center, Coimbra, Portugal, 5University of Porto, Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure (CIAFEL), Porto, Portugal, 6University of Coimbra, Research Unity for Sport and Physical Activity (CIDAF), Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, Coimbra, Portugal, 7University of Coimbra, Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (IBILI), Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra, Portugal, 8Lusófona University of Humanities and Technologies, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Lisbon, Portugal, 9University of Coimbra, Centre for Health Studies and Research, Coimbra, Portugal
Background: In recent years, the growing participation of athletes in long-distance running events has resulted in an increased demand for sport-specific training. It has been also associated with an increase in running-related injuries and a growing demand for physical therapy. A broader understanding of the specific body size and composition characteristics of the ultra-trail runners, including the differences between recreational and competitive athletes, might help in designing more specific and effective sports training and physical therapy interventions.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to characterize the body size and composition of Portuguese ultra-trail runners and to compare the athletes according to their level of practice (recreational vs. competitive).
Methods: Forty four male ultra-trail runners (recreational group: n=25, 38.8 ± 8.2 years of chronological age, 3.88 ± 3.02 years of practice; competitive group: n=19, 33.5 ± 4.1 years of chronological age, 4.05 ± 2.61 years of practice) were assessed using a multidimensional battery of tests. Body size data (stature, sitting stature, leg length and body mass) was obtained with anthropometric measurements. Body composition data (whole body: body volume, body density, fat mass, fat-free mass, total body water; whole body and lower limbs: bone mineral content and density, bone area, fat tissue, lean soft tissue) was obtained with air displacement plethysmography, bioelectrical impedance and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Nutritional information (calories, macro and micronutrients intake) was collected with the Food Frequency Questionnaire.
Results: The comparison between recreational and competitive athletes using the independent samples t-test showed statistically significant differences in the following variables: chronological age (recreational: 38.8 ± 8.2 years vs. competitive: 33.5 ± 4.1 years, p 0.01); body volume (recreational: 71.110 ± 10.611 L vs. competitive: 65.085 ± 7.106 L, p=0.04); body density (recreational: 1.062 ± 0.015 L.kg-1 vs. competitive: 1.074 ± 0.009 L.kg-1, p 0.01); fat mass (recreational: 12.7 ± 6.8 kg vs. competitive: 7.6 ± 2.7 kg, p 0.01); whole body fat tissue (recreational: 13.1 ± 7.1 kg, competitive: 7.6 ± 2.4 kg; p 0.01) and polyunsaturated fats intake (recreational: 5.4 ± 0.9%, competitive: 4.6 ± 1.2%, p 0.01).
Conclusion(s): The competitive group of athletes was younger, had a lower body volume and a higher body density. The amount of fat-free mass was similar between the groups, but the amount of fat mass and whole body fat tissue was higher in the recreational group. The assessment of food frequency showed an absence of differences between the groups, except for polyunsaturated fats intake. It is likely that the differences between the groups can be explained, at least partially, by the higher demands of training and competition to which the competitive athletes are exposed.
Implications: Sports training and physical therapy interventions for ultra-trail runners with different levels of practice must take into account that there are differences in body composition. Body composition characteristics may be of particular interest since they can be potentially modifiable through exercise and weight management.
Keywords: Body size, body composition, ultra-trail runners
Funding acknowledgements: The work was unfunded.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to characterize the body size and composition of Portuguese ultra-trail runners and to compare the athletes according to their level of practice (recreational vs. competitive).
Methods: Forty four male ultra-trail runners (recreational group: n=25, 38.8 ± 8.2 years of chronological age, 3.88 ± 3.02 years of practice; competitive group: n=19, 33.5 ± 4.1 years of chronological age, 4.05 ± 2.61 years of practice) were assessed using a multidimensional battery of tests. Body size data (stature, sitting stature, leg length and body mass) was obtained with anthropometric measurements. Body composition data (whole body: body volume, body density, fat mass, fat-free mass, total body water; whole body and lower limbs: bone mineral content and density, bone area, fat tissue, lean soft tissue) was obtained with air displacement plethysmography, bioelectrical impedance and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Nutritional information (calories, macro and micronutrients intake) was collected with the Food Frequency Questionnaire.
Results: The comparison between recreational and competitive athletes using the independent samples t-test showed statistically significant differences in the following variables: chronological age (recreational: 38.8 ± 8.2 years vs. competitive: 33.5 ± 4.1 years, p 0.01); body volume (recreational: 71.110 ± 10.611 L vs. competitive: 65.085 ± 7.106 L, p=0.04); body density (recreational: 1.062 ± 0.015 L.kg-1 vs. competitive: 1.074 ± 0.009 L.kg-1, p 0.01); fat mass (recreational: 12.7 ± 6.8 kg vs. competitive: 7.6 ± 2.7 kg, p 0.01); whole body fat tissue (recreational: 13.1 ± 7.1 kg, competitive: 7.6 ± 2.4 kg; p 0.01) and polyunsaturated fats intake (recreational: 5.4 ± 0.9%, competitive: 4.6 ± 1.2%, p 0.01).
Conclusion(s): The competitive group of athletes was younger, had a lower body volume and a higher body density. The amount of fat-free mass was similar between the groups, but the amount of fat mass and whole body fat tissue was higher in the recreational group. The assessment of food frequency showed an absence of differences between the groups, except for polyunsaturated fats intake. It is likely that the differences between the groups can be explained, at least partially, by the higher demands of training and competition to which the competitive athletes are exposed.
Implications: Sports training and physical therapy interventions for ultra-trail runners with different levels of practice must take into account that there are differences in body composition. Body composition characteristics may be of particular interest since they can be potentially modifiable through exercise and weight management.
Keywords: Body size, body composition, ultra-trail runners
Funding acknowledgements: The work was unfunded.
Topic: Sport & sports injuries; Musculoskeletal; Human movement analysis
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
Ethics committee: Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Sport, University of Porto
Ethics number: CEFADE 17.2017
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
