The 15th edition of Silesia Marathon 2023 will start this Sunday (October 1), with more than 7,000 people taking part in the event. However, before the marathoners line up at the start line, some of them will undergo cardiological tests. In this way, researchers at the Silesian Medical University in Katowice want to check what effect participating in the marathon has on the health of the runners. The examinations will begin as early as September 28 (Thursday) at 4:30 p.m. SUM experts and runners can be met in front of the Silesian Stadium.
Scientists will test the impact of marathon participation on runners' health
Published Sept. 28, 2023 11:40
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- Running in Poland has become a mass sport and attendance at half-marathons and marathons continues to grow. It is worth noting, however, that many people practice the sport amateurishly, which also means that runners whose bodies are not adapted to such a large physical effort are not infrequently lined up at the starting line, says Andrzej Tomasik, MD, a cardiologist at the Silesian Medical University in Katowice, and adds: - Physical exertion in an untrained person causes overloading of the heart, whether short-term and reversible or not. We are talking about worse contractility or valvular regurgitation, among other things. High-performance sports associated, for example, with regular participation in marathons, require adaptation on the part of the entire body, and especially on the part of the cardiovascular system. Thus, it may turn out that some of the people we tested should not take part in a marathon. If the test results of any runner concern us, we will of course, for health reasons, advise against participation in the race. However, the final decision is up to the marathon participant.
In total, SUM scientists will examine about 150 people. These will include both runners who will cover a distance of 42 kilometers and 50 kilometers during Sunday's race. In each of them, a heart echo will be performed three times - before the marathon, immediately after crossing the finish line and 7-10 days after the run. The examination will be performed using new echocardiographic capabilities, such as strain analysis and three-dimensional evaluation of individual heart cavities. The goal of the project is to learn more about the effects of extreme exercise stress on the cardiovascular system.
The tests will begin on Thursday, September 28, at 4:30 pm in front of the Silesian Stadium (gate 7B).
Detailed schedule:
- Thursday, September 28 16:30 - 19:00
- Friday, September 29, 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
- Saturday, September 30, 8:00 am - 3:00 pm
- Sunday, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Source: Silesian Medical University
