Is there a correlation between physical or mental exhaustion and specific changes in the metabolite concentrations in the blood of alpine skiers? Prof. Dr. Henning Wackerhage's Chair of Exercise Biology is investigating this question in its new project entitled “sportFATIGOM”. The study, which will run until December 2020, is funded with a total amount of around €35,000 by the German Federal Institute of Sports Science (BISp).
In cooperation with the German Ski Association (DVS), an estimated 20 athletes (ten women and ten men) from the Alpine Skiing National Team will participate in the study during the project period. These alpine skiers will be accompanied over the course of a preparation cycle. During this time, blood samples will be collected from the athletes if they feel rested or tired and/or experience performance problems. “Athletes often find themselves in extreme fatigue and exhaustion situations, for example when they have to do a lot of training, travel a lot or train at high altitudes and in cold regions,” explains Stephanie Kaps, Research Associate and doctoral candidate at the Chair of Exercise Biology. “The basic idea behind the project is that some athletes, despite seemingly perfect training conditions, are unable to perform at their best or feel exhausted. We would like to find out whether this is related to altered metabolite concentrations and what the underlying reasons for this might be.”
The aim of the study is to examine whether, for example, fatigue states are reflected in certain metabolite or protein concentrations in the blood which could therefore explain the existence of an “Unexplained Underperformance Syndrome”. The blood samples will be evaluated using modern mass spectrometry in combination with functional tests and psychological questionnaires.
“By carrying out several measurements, we want to investigate whether systematic changes can be observed in the concentration of metabolites in the athletes' blood,” says Prof. Henning Wackerhage. “Ideally, we will be able to identify the causes of fatigue or poor performance and subsequently remedy these problems.”
Furthermore, Dr. Martin Schönfelder, Research Associate at the Chair of Exercise Biology, will carry out a systematic literature analysis to identify metabolites and proteins whose concentrations are altered, for example, as a result of stress, fatigue, lack of sleep or “chronic fatigue syndrome”. “By analysing the literature, we can build up a small catalogue of biomarkers that will also be tested as part of the blood analysis. These could possibly provide clues as to what could be the cause of the athletes' potential performance problems”, explains Stephanie Kaps while discussing the procedure.
Due to the current corona crisis, the start date of the study has been postponed for the time being, as no initial performance diagnostic analysis can be performed for the skiers at this point. “However, we hope that this will change in the course of the coming weeks and that we will finally be able to carry out the initial diagnosis”, concludes Kaps with cautious optimism. “Our primary goal, of course, remains to make the study completely safe for everyone involved - researchers and participants alike.”
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Contact:
Prof. Dr. Henning Wackerhage
Chair of Exercise Biology
Georg-Brauchle Ring 60/62
80992 München
phone: 089 289 24480
e-mail: henning.wackerhage(at)tum.de
Stephanie Kaps
Chair of Exercise Biology
Georg-Brauchle Ring 60/62
80992 München
phone: 089 289 24481
e-mail: stephanie.kaps(at)tum.de
Text: Romy Schwaiger
Photos: „sportFATIGOM“/DSV/BISp/Chair of Exercise Biology