Clinical trial NCT05729841: Study of Ocean Rowing Muscle Metabolism. 1. What Effect Does Rowing 3000 Miles Across Atlantic Ocean Have on Calf Muscle Size? 2. In the Catabolic State of Extreme Endurance, is Muscle Loss Uniform or Can the Human Body Select Depending on Load and Nutrient Availability?
Official title: StORMM 1:What Effect Does Rowing 3000 Miles Across Atlantic Ocean Have on Calf Muscle Size? StORMM 2. In the Catabolic State of Extreme Endurance, is Muscle Loss Uniform or Can the Human Body Select Depending on Load and Nutrient Availability?
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Conditions: Exercise
Keywords: ocean rowing
ultra endurance
doubly labelled water
Lead sponsor: University of Exeter
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2023-02-15
Enrollment: 60
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Observational model: COHORT
Time perspective: PROSPECTIVE
Sampling method: NON_PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: Healthy, fit and active males and females aged 18 and over

Brief summary: Little is known on the human adaptation to extreme endurance and with the increasing popularity in long duration events we seek to provide insight into the physiological and metabolic adaptation processes of ocean rowing.

Rowing 12-18 hours a day will illicit a high energy expenditure and anecdotally people have lost large amounts of body weight and variable amounts of muscle mass, particularly in the lower limbs. This may provide insights and a potential new model to to study muscle unloading.

Detailed description: Previous research has investigated factors determining muscle loss through bed rest and limb immobilisation. These methods are limited in that some do not include inflammation or changes in nutrition, which have been shown to be key drivers of muscle loss. These studies aim to investigate a potentially new model of muscle unloading.

Ocean rowing is an ultra-endurance sport where people spend 35-90 days at sea. Usually rowing for a minimum of 12 hours a day, in a 2-hour on/off shift pattern with daily food rations. Rowers lose body and muscle mass. There is likely to be low-grade inflammation, nutritional deficit, fatigue and rowers do not stand up for the entire crossing. Part 1 aims to quantify this muscle loss by inviting rowers in the annual 3000 mile Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge 2020 to take part. While part 2 aims to continue the work by measuring upper and core muscles as well as lower limb muscles from the first study with the aim of understanding how the body allocates resources in a hypocaloric, high energy expenditure environment.

Muscle mass of the lower limbs of the rowers will be measured with ultrasound, as well as body mass, body composition, energy expenditure and nutritional intake, the week before the race and immediately after arrival in Antigua. As well as adding novel insights to the knowledge base around factors affecting ultra endurance performance, the results will then be used to inform future intervention studies aimed at preventing muscle loss.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

- Taking part in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge 2020 and 2021

Exclusion Criteria:

- lower limb amputee musculoskeletal, metabolic, neurological disease pacemaker fitted

Primary outcomes:
measure: Energy Expenditure
timeFrame: 5-7 days in final week of row
measure: Calf Muscle thickness
timeFrame: 5-7 weeks
measure: Energy Intake
timeFrame: 5-7 days in final week of row
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Difference in rate of muscle thickness loss between males and females
timeFrame: 5-7 weeks
measure: Difference in rate of muscle thickness loss in older vs younger rowers
timeFrame: 5-7 weeks
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Exeter
country: United Kingdom
facility: University of Exeter
state: Devon
Study officials:
affiliation: University of Exeter
name: Francis Stephens
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: