Navigate Up

News Release Search
GO
UPMC/University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences
​
For Journalists
Chuck Finder
Manager
Telephone: 412-996-5852
Jennifer Yates
Manager
Telephone: 412-647-9966
For Patients and Non-Media
Want to make an appointment or need patient info?
​

​
Cardiovascular Research Studying Runners Launches at Pittsburgh Marathon

PITTSBURGH, May 4 – Feet, muscles and bones take a tremendous pounding from hundreds of miles of training and then racing in a marathon such as Sunday’s Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon, but little is known about how the heart reacts.

This weekend, the University of Pittsburgh Department of Emergency Medicine will inaugurate a year-long research study into the cardiovascular stress that athletes experience from a long-endurance event—particularly, the 26.2-mile marathon.

To that end, Pitt researchers will place heart monitors on 10 volunteer participants before, during and the day after this Sunday’s race, and also will draw a blood sample immediately following the race. The study participants, who cut across age ranges and competitive abilities, wear monitors that display results similar to a stress test – and the findings can be compared against training journals kept by participants for 10 to 12 weeks.

“Much of the training for a marathon is, in fact, conditioning of the heart for this event,” said Clifton Callaway, MD, PhD, professor of emergency medicine. “Despite this, there are very few studies about heart activity during actual races, and even fewer about the recovery over the day after a race.  Moreover, many previous studies have focused on elite runners who may not be representative of the large numbers of amateur runners who now participate in these races.”

Drs. Callaway and Dave Hostler, PhD, associate professor of emergency medicine, are the principal investigators of the research project. They seek to expand the study to other major marathons around the United States.
Working the Pittsburgh race will be a team of four volunteers, directed by Vanessa Franco, PhD, and an MD candidate aiming to complete her Pitt School of Medicine education in December. Franco is a marathoner who in April finished the prestigious Boston Marathon, a race where unseasonably warm temperatures caused 2,041 runners—or roughly one of every nine participants—to seek medical attention.
The Department of Emergency Medicine is providing the financial support for the research without any external funding.

UPMC | Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences Supplemental content provided by Healthwise, Incorporated. To learn more, visit www.healthwise.org

For help in finding a doctor or health service that suits your needs, call the UPMC Referral Service at 412-647-UPMC (8762) or 1-800-533-UPMC (8762). Select option 1.

UPMC is an equal opportunity employer. UPMC policy prohibits discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, sex, genetics, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, familial status, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected group status. Further, UPMC will continue to support and promote equal employment opportunity, human dignity, and racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity. This policy applies to admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in UPMC programs and activities. This commitment is made by UPMC in accordance with federal, state, and/or local laws and regulations.

Medical information made available on UPMC.com is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should not rely entirely on this information for your health care needs. Ask your own doctor or health care provider any specific medical questions that you have. Further, UPMC.com is not a tool to be used in the case of an emergency. If an emergency arises, you should seek appropriate emergency medical services.

UPMC
Pittsburgh, PA, USA | UPMC.com