title: Changes in lung function during an extreme mountain ultramarathon.
abstract: This study aimed to assess the effects of an extreme mountain ultramarathon (MUM, 330 km, 24,000 D+) on lung function. Twenty-nine experienced male ultramarathon runners performed longitudinally [before (pre), during (mid), and immediately after (post) a MUM] a battery of pulmonary function tests. The tests included measurements of forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 s, peak flow, inspiratory capacity, and maximum voluntary ventilation in 12 s (MVV12). A significant reduction in the running speed was observed (-43.0% between pre-mid and mid-post; P < 0.001). Expiratory function declined significantly at mid (P < 0.05) and at post (P < 0.05). A similar trend was observed for inspiratory function (P < 0.05). MVV12 declined at mid (P < 0.05) and further decreased at post (P < 0.05). Furthermore, there are significant negative correlations between performance time and MVV12 pre-race (R = -0.54, P = 0.02) as well as changes in MVV12 between pre- and post-race (R = -0.53, P = 0.009). It is concluded that during an extreme MUM, a continuous decline in pulmonary function was observed, likely attributable to the high levels of ventilation required during this MUM in a harsh mountainous environment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.|CeRiSM, Research Center "Sport, Mountain and Health", University of Verona, Rovereto, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vernillo
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rinaldo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giorgi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Trabucchi
authors.affiliation: ISSUL, Institute of Sport Sciences, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Millet
authors.affiliation: CeRiSM, Research Center "Sport, Mountain and Health", University of Verona, Rovereto, Italy.|Department of Neurological and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schena
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000531:Altitude; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D007320:Inspiratory Capacity; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008451:Maximal Voluntary Ventilation; D008875:Middle Aged; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D014797:Vital Capacity
keywords: Fatigue; pulmonary function; respiratory muscle; spirometry; ultra trail; ultra-endurance