The Body Rehab Injury & Rehabilitation Clinic in Staveley announced earlier this year their long term commitment to, and association with both the Brathay Windermere Marathon and Brathay 10 in 10. In conjunction with the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) they also outlined their involvement in seminal research into the area of ultra endurance running.
Graham Theobald, clinical lead and director, said that alongside daily massage, injury management, advice and treatment throughout the 10 in 10 they will be taking capillary blood for creatine kinase and markers of immune function and saliva/urine samples to determine dehydration markers. These will be analysed in the laboratory. Body mass and GPS data will also be taken. In parallel to this they will also be conducting a independent study into injury incidence and effective injury treatment protocols as well as proprioception and balance. Publication is intended in a variety of journals including Physical Therapy in Sport and the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
“We are delighted to be sponsoring and supporting the entire project from start to finish. Our intention is to extend this support beyond this year and develop a long term partnership. Alongside our aim to work with the special requirements of athletes wherever possible, and do whatever we can to ensure they start and finish each run in the best possible condition, we are committed to providing a dynamic and unique contribution to scientific research into this relatively unknown discipline. With the full support of both Brathay and UCLan we intend to publish an exciting amount of data from a variety of sources. We are also working to ensure that the Brathay Windermere Marathon and 10 in 10 lead the field in this area with an integrated website that makes up to date research available to everyone. Hopefully the outcomes from the work will help to both inform and advise ultra endurance athletes as to immune system and muscle damage, injury avoidance and treatment and target future training regimes and planning for events and challenges.”
Injury treatment, preventative work and massage will be available for all participants both pre and post all 10 marathons. Support began in January at the first meeting of the athletes, and will continue until after the last run and beyond. Our services will include traditional & kinesio taping, soft tissue massage, specific mobilisations and manipulations, electrotherapy, rehab therapy in-between runs, musculoskeletal diagnostic ultrasound, cryo-therapy, specialist consultation, and pain management.