Citation

Graham SM, Martindale RJJ, McKinley M, Connaboy C, Andronikos G, Susmarski A. Eur. J. Sport Sci. 2020; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pennsylvania, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/17461391.2020.1733670

PMID

32089095

Abstract

There is scarcity of research examining the physiological and psychological effects of ultra-endurance racing on athletes in extreme conditions. The purpose of the current study was to identify common injury patterns and illness, profile mood states and sleep patterns and finally examine the relationships between mental toughness, sleep, mood and injury rates during a 120 mile, three day Arctic ultra-marathon. Twelve participants (3 females, 9 males) with a mean age of 42 ± 5.35 participated in the study. Mental toughness was measured using the MT18 questionnaire. Injuries were clinically assessed and recorded each day. Temperatures ranged from -20 to -6 degrees Celsius throughout the race. Sleep quantity and mood state were recorded using the BRUMS questionnaire. 10 out of the 12 participants experienced injuries; almost half of the participants had injuries that carried over a number of days. Mean sleep duration over the three days was 4.07 hours, with an average of 0.78 injuries per day. Significant changes in mood were recorded across the three days, specifically a reduction in vigour (p = .029) and increase in fatigue (p = .014). Neither sleep quantity nor mental toughness was correlated with injury rate. Interestingly, sleep quantity was not related to changes in mood, as previously shown in ultra-marathons. Mental toughness had a moderate negative correlation (p < 0.01) with depression (-.623), reduced anger (-.616), confusion (-.558), increased vigour (.497) and tension (-.420) during the race. Success in this type of event involves significant psychological and physiological preparation to minimise the effects of sleep deprivation and avoidance of injuries.

Language: en

Keywords

endurance; environmental physiology; fatigue; injury & prevention; mental toughness