This work has made it possible to characterize the influence of biological sex on the functional recovery profile of male and female recreational runners (Macchi et al. 2021, 2022) and to identify the hamstring muscles as the major target of muscle micro-injuries caused by running, particularly in women.
Conducted jointly by the ISM and the CRMBM, this first project aimed to specify the kinetics of onset and disappearance of functional and structural signs associated with muscle micro-injuries caused by the 20 km ascent of the Marseille-Cassis run.
This work has made it possible to characterize the influence of biological sex on the functional recovery profile of male and female recreational runners (Macchi et al. 2021, 2022) and to identify the hamstring muscles as the major target of running-induced muscle micro-injuries, particularly in women. By day 4 post-race, and irrespective of biological sex, structural and functional recovery was incomplete despite the disappearance of muscle soreness (Macchi et al. 2024). Significantly increased hamstring damage in women could have a negative impact on running biomechanics, which is generally resumed as soon as muscle soreness subsides, i.e. well before full recovery.
A first sub-project (GenderRecov2) entitled "Influence of biological sex on the kinetics of structural and functional recovery of lower limb muscles after an endurance run with gradient", will start in mid-March 2025. The main objective of the study will be to characterize the differences between men and eumenorrheic women in the neuromuscular recovery profile of locomotor muscles in the mid-luteal phase after a level endurance run.
The profile of the Marseille-Cassis race will be reproduced on a motorized treadmill placed in a thermal and calorimetric chamber, enabling experts to adapt the test dates to the women's menstrual cycle and standardize environmental conditions. A screen showing the actual course of the race will be placed in front of the participants.
A second sub-project (GenderTraining) will study the "Effects of 6 weeks of eccentric hamstring training on structural-functional recovery after a 20 km uphill run". The running and testing protocols will be identical to the previous ones.