Mandatory rest stops improve athlete safety during event medical coverage for ultramarathons
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Provisions of medical direction and clinical services for ultramarathons require specific attention to heat illness. Heat stress can affect athlete performance negatively, and heat accumulation without acclimatization is associated with the development of exertional heat stroke (EHS). In order to potentially mitigate the risk of this safety concern, the Jungle Marathon (Para, Brazil) instituted mandatory rest periods during the first two days of this 7-day, staged, Brazilian ultramarathon. METHODS: Race records were reviewed retrospectively to determine the number of runners that suffered an emergency medical complication related to heat stress and did not finish (DNF) the race. Review of records included three years before and three years after the institution of these mandatory rest periods. RESULTS: A total of 326 runners competed in the Jungle Marathon during the 2008-2013 period of study. During the pre-intervention years, a total of 46 athletes (21%) DNF the full race with 25 (54.3%) cases attributed to heat-related factors. During the post-intervention years, a total of 26 athletes (24.3%) DNF the full race with four (15.4%) cases attributed to heat-related factors. CONCLUSION: Mandatory rest stops during extreme running events in hot or tropical environments, like the Jungle Marathon, are likely to improve athlete safety and improve the heat acclimatization process.
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In ultra-marathons, several cases of athletes not finishing because of heat-related factors, such as inadequate heat acclimatization, have been reported.
“and in ultra-marathons several cases of athletes that did not finish because of heat-related factors, as an inadequately heat acclimatization have been reported [29,35].”
From Nutrition-Related Adverse Outcomes in Endurance Sports Competitions: A Review of Incidence and Practical Recommendations (2020) · cites this paper as [29]
EHS is most commonly associated with long periods of extreme heat or solar stress alongside exposure to high humidity.
“EHS can occur in various environmental conditions, but it is most commonly associated with long periods of extreme heat or solar stress alongside exposure to high humidity [29].”
From Nutrition-Related Adverse Outcomes in Endurance Sports Competitions: A Review of Incidence and Practical Recommendations (2020) · cites this paper as [29]
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Martínez-Sanz, J. M., Fernández Nuñez, A., Sospedra, I., Martínez-Rodríguez, A., Domínguez, R., González-Jurado, J. A., & Sánchez-Oliver, A. J. (2020) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph17114082 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
- Authors
- Joslin, J., Mularella, J., Bail, A., Wojcik, S., & Cooney, D. R.
- Affiliations
- SUNY Upstate Medical University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Cooney, Derek R.
- Venue
- Prehospital and Disaster Medicine
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2016-01-11
- Volume
- 31
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 43-45
- ISSN
- 0882-7397 (ISSN-L)
- 1049-023X
- 1945-1938
- OpenAlex
- W2239568423
- Cited by
- 14
- References
- 9
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2016: 1
- FWCI
- 0.81
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Prehospital and Disaster Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Thermoregulation and physiological responses
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports injuries and prevention
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Travel-related health issues
- Keywords
- ultramarathon, exertional heat stroke, heat stress, heat acclimatization, athlete safety
- MeSH terms
- Brazil, Documentation, Physical Exertion, Humans, Rest, Retrospective Studies, Running, Safety, Heat Stress Disorders, Athletes
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