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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06297317

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

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).

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Key information

Conditions

Achilles Tendinopathy Calf Injury Leg Injuries Lower Limb Injury Sport Injury Wounds and Injuries

Age range

25 year–70 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

CHU Caen Normandie

Caen, 14000, France

Who can participate

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Experienced runners voluntarily participating in the Trail Scientifique de Clécy (156 km/6000 D+)
  • Participants who had already completed 2 ultratrail races (+160 km and -160 km), at least one of them in the past 24 months; the participants had to justify their events and rankings
  • Participants affiliated with a social security system or those who were a beneficiary of such a system
  • Participants who could speak and read the French language
  • Participants with the ability to physically participate in the ultraendurance race
  • Participants with the ability to provide written consent for participation in the study

Exclusion criteria

  • Participants with cardiac or extracardiac contraindications to intense physical activity
  • Participants who had run a mountain ultramarathon (160 km) after September 2, 2021
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding women
  • Minor participants
  • Participants included in another biomedical research protocol during this study
  • Participants with recent muscular and orthopedic injuries, limiting running for <15 days
  • Participants with a history of ankle joint surgery (eg, arthrodesis)
  • Participants with a history of foot or ankle surgery
  • Participants with lower-limb pathology or trauma

Treatment and study plan

Ultrasound measurement of triceps surae muscle-tendon architecture

Diagnostic Test

The resting plantar-flexors MTU architecture assessment was performed using a conventional B-mode and extended-field-of-view (EFOV) ultrasound imaging. Achille tendon cross-sectionnal area, Medial gastrocnemius thickness, pennation angle, fascicle length and muscle length were collected on the dominant lower limb.

Primary outcomes

  1. Achille tendon cross sectional area

    Time frame: 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

  2. Medial gastrocnemius thickness

    Time frame: 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

  3. Medial gastrocnemius pennation angle

    Time frame: 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

  4. Medial gastrocnemius fascicle length

    Time frame: 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

  5. Medial gastrocnemius muscle length

    Time frame: 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 outcomes

  1. Finisher status

    Time frame: One time point, after the race

    Participants were classifioed as "Finishers" or "Did not finish" whether they completed the 156-km race, or not

  2. Average speed

    Time frame: 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

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University Hospital, Caen

Other

Registry information

Acronym: Trailstiff

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2021
Study completion
2024
First posted
Mar 7, 2024
Registry last updated
Mar 26, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

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This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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