The hearts of 10 marathon runners go under the microscope

[12 April 2007 - 15h26]
[mis à jour le 13 April 2007 à 15h25]

Among the 35,000 participants in the Paris Marathon taking place this Sunday 15th April, 10 anonymous runners will be very closely followed by scientists … albeit from a distance. They are taking part in a study aimed at measuring their cardiac output in real time. It will be a world first.

The experiment is being conducted by Professor Véronique Billat of the LEPHE (Laboratory for the Study of the Physiology of Exercise) based at the Evry Genopole. As one of her colleagues, sports doctor Jean-Pierre Koralsztein explained to us, “the runners will be fitted with a portable device – the physioflow. This measures their systolic ejection volume during effort”. That’s to say, the volume of blood sent out by the heart with each heartbeat.

Cutting edge technology, but “not in the least cumbersome for those taking part who will wear the device itself, a few electrodes and their cardio-frequency meter”, Dr Koralsztein assured us. The researchers are also going to conduct a real time study of the evolution of the blood flow of their 10 “guinea pigs” – all seasoned marathon runners – over the 26 miles 385 yards of the race. The data gathered will help provide a better understanding of the consequences of dehydration on cardiac output.

Above all, the results will enable runners, both amateur and professional, to optimise their training without damaging their health. Interestingly enough, despite the fact that the marathon dates back over two thousand years, many questions still remain about the real impact of this race on the human body,.

Source : Genopole, April 2007, Interview with Dr Jean-Pierre Koralsztein, 11 April 2007

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