Longitudinal Changes in Achilles Tendon and Medial Gastrocnemius Muscle Architecture During a 156-km Ultradistance Trail Running Event

Completed

• Conditions: Sport Injury; Calf Injury; Lower Limb Injury; Achilles Tendinopathy
• Interventions: Diagnostic Test: Ultrasound measurement of triceps surae muscle-tendon architecture

• Registration Number: NCT06297317
• Lead Sponsor: University Hospital, Caen

Brief Summary

This study aimed to assess the longitudinal changes in triceps surae muscle-tendon architecture to an ultra distance trail running. Experienced trail runners (N=55, 78% men, age: 45.2 \[13.5\] years) participated in a 156-km trail run (6000m climbing) consisting in six 26-km laps. The resting architectural properties of triceps surae muscle-tendon were measured using ultrasound imaging for Achille tendon cross-sectional area (AT CSA), medial gastrocnemius muscle pennation angle, thickness, length and fiber length. Measurements were performed the day before the race (Baseline), at 52-km (T1), at 104-km (T2), at 156-km (T3) and 12 hours after the race (H12).

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2021-11-11
• Primary Completion: 2021-11-13
• Status Verified: 2024-02
• Study Completion: 2024-02-01
• Study First Submitted: 2024-02-19
• Study First Submitted QC: 2024-02-28
• Study First Posted: 2024-03-07
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-03-24
• Last Update Posted: 2025-03-26

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 55

Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Experienced long-distance trail runners	Ultrasound measurement of triceps surae muscle-tendon architecture	All the participants of the First 'Trail Scientifique de Clécy 2021". This was a multidisciplinary protocol to investigate the mechanisms that contribute to performance during an ultradistance trail race (156-km)

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Medial gastrocnemius fascicle length	Five time points: (1) at baseline, the day before the 156-km race, (2) during the race, at 52-km, (3) during the race, at 104-km, (4) immediately after the race, at 156-km and (5) at 12-hours after arrival.	Medial gastrocnemius fascicle length was calculated under the assumption of linearity as Fascicle Lnegth = Muscle Thickness / sin (Pennation angle) measured at the inferior third of muscle length (calculated in mm) using B mode ultrasound imaging
Medial gastrocnemius pennation angle	Five time points: (1) at baseline, the day before the 156-km race, (2) during the race, at 52-km, (3) during the race, at 104-km, (4) immediately after the race, at 156-km and (5) at 12-hours after arrival.	Medial gastrocnemius pennation angle was measured at the inferior third of muscle llength (in °) using B mode ultrasound imaging
Medial gastrocnemius thickness	Five time points: (1) at baseline, the day before the 156-km race, (2) during the race, at 52-km, (3) during the race, at 104-km, (4) immediately after the race, at 156-km and (5) at 12-hours after arrival.	Medial gastrocnemius thickness was measured at the inferior third of muscle llength (in mm) using B mode ultrasound imaging
Achille tendon cross sectional area	Five time points: (1) at baseline, the day before the 156-km race, (2) during the race, at 52-km, (3) during the race, at 104-km, (4) immediately after the race, at 156-km and (5) at 12-hours after arrival.	Mid-portion Achille tendon cross sectional area was measured (in mm²) using B mode ultrasound imaging
Medial gastrocnemius muscle length	Five time points: (1) at baseline, the day before the 156-km race, (2) during the race, at 52-km, (3) during the race, at 104-km, (4) immediately after the race, at 156-km and (5) at 12-hours after arrival.	Medial gastrocnemius muscle length was measured using an extended-field-of-view (EFOV) ultrasound imaging

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Average speed	Four time point (1) during the race, at 52-km, (2) during the race, at 104-km, (3) during the race, at 156-km and (4) for the whole race.	Average speed was calculated using the time per lap and distance for each lap
Finisher status	One time point, after the race	Participants were classifioed as "Finishers" or "Did not finish" whether they completed the 156-km race, or not

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

CHU Caen Normandie; 🇫🇷 Caen, France