Runners should undergo medical examinations at least twice a year, marathon runners preparing for the competition - even every few weeks. Research for runners allows us to find out, among other things, whether our heart and circulatory system are functioning properly and to check how exercise affects our body. They are also required by the organizers of marathons and half marathons. Check what tests to do before the old man in the competition and before starting running training.

Tests for runnersis a package of medical examinations that every training person should perform every 3-4 months. They are especially important for beginner runners who have not practiced any sport before and want to start training - by carrying out appropriate tests, they can check whether they have contraindications for running. The transition from a sedentary lifestyle to training 3 times a week is a big change for the body - during exercise, diseases that have not shown any symptoms so far may appear. It is important to diagnose them in time and avoid a sudden deterioration of he alth.

Basic medical examinations should also be performed before the start in running competitions. The organizers of long-distance runs usually require the competitors to have a medical certificate that there are no contraindications to start. Such a certificate can be issued by a family doctor or sports doctor based on positive results of blood, urine and ECG tests.

Basic research for runners

Basic research package for both beginner and advanced runners, consisting of:

  • blood tests (including peripheral blood counts, iron, cholesterol, glucose, liver tests, sodium, magnesium, potassium);
  • general urine tests;
  • Resting ECG.

It is not enough to test yourself just before training or participating in a competition. People exposed to deficiencies and runners during intensive preparations for the marathon should perform tests even every two weeks - this applies primarily to morphology. Amateurs can visit the doctor 2-4 times a year. The most reliable results are obtained from studies carried out in transitional periods, i.e. when we run less often or not at all (intense effort has an impact onchanges in the concentrations of individual substances). For this reason, it is worth examining yourself in the period of de-training.

Blood tests for runners

Blood parameters, which are particularly important for beginners and regular runners, include blood count, i.e. testing the quality and quantity of morphotic elements present in the plasma. The most important are:

  • hematocrit , which is the ratio of red blood cells to blood volume. Their deficiency in people who do not regularly practice sports indicates anemia, while in runners it may mean a special type of so-called sports anemia. It is a natural phenomenon and means that the body has adapted to the constant effort by thinning the blood (hence the ratio of erythrocytes to plasma volume decreases)
  • hemoglobin and erythrocytes- responsible for oxygen transport. Their low level in people of average condition may also indicate anemia. Increased values ​​of hemoglobin and erythrocytes are common in intensively training runners. In addition to the morphology, the doctor should issue a referral for a concentration test:
  • iron- it is important that its level is normal before starting training, while in advanced runners it is high. Iron is involved in the formation of hemoglobin, which transports oxygen, and therefore has a great impact on the effectiveness of training and the proper functioning of the body during exercise.
  • cholesterol - elevated cholesterol is a symptom that should not be taken lightly. If its concentration is significantly above the norm, the risk of a heart attack increases. A slight elevation of bad cholesterol can be lowered by running regularly.
  • glucose- abnormal glucose levels may indicate diabetes. Although running is recommended in the prevention of diabetes, patients suffering from this disease should consult a doctor and determine the optimal level of exercise with him.
  • liver tests- abnormal liver enzyme results are also an indication for agreeing the possible level of physical activity with your doctor.
  • sodium- this element is important in maintaining the acid-base balance of the body and ensures the proper functioning of the nervous and muscular systems. Deficiencies of this nutrient are rare today, but in athletes they may be temporary - then you can supplement the deficiency by drinking drinks containing mineral s alts and electrolytes.
  • magnesium- is the most important mineral from the point of view of athletes, because it is involved in the processes of nerve impulses conduction tomuscles. Magnesium deficiency may reduce the effects of training, cause cramps and disrupt the work of the muscular system.
  • potassium- like magnesium, it plays an important role in transmitting nerve impulses and initiates muscle contractions. With frequent, exhausting training, its concentration in the blood must be monitored frequently.

EKG and urine test

Highly training runners may have a trace of protein in their urine, which for athletes is not a cause for concern. However, in people who haven't exercised intensively, a urinalysis should show no change.

The resting ECG allows you to determine the rhythm and frequency of the heartbeat, to capture possible changes in its structure and abnormalities in the work of the heart muscle. The most common are: arrhythmias, abnormal blood supply, changes caused, for example, by a heart attack. A basic ECG test can help detect a latent heart failure and help prevent serious medical conditions, including an exercise-induced heart attack.

This will be useful to you

A resting ECG is enough to issue a medical certificate that there are no contraindications to participate in the marathon. However, once in a while, it is worth taking an exercise ECG that shows how the heart is working hard with exercise. The patient in the study walks and then runs on the treadmill and gradually increases the pace of the run until the heart rate reaches its maximum frequency.

Exercise EKG allows you to assess the cardiac efficiency during increased physical activity and detect abnormalities in its work. It is worth adding that this test is often accompanied by spirometry, i.e. the measurement of lung function. It allows you to assess the runner's aerobic capacity, in other words, the body's ability to uptake oxygen. With spirotometry, parameters such as VO2 max, metabolic thresholds (when the body shifts from aerobic to anaerobic) and training zones (heart rate ranges in which you should exercise to lose weight or improve fitness) can be determined.

(when the body moves from the aerobic to anaerobic threshold) and training zones (heart rate ranges in which you should exercise to lose weight or improve your condition). -vo2max-standards-for-men-and-women_43902.html

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Running