What impact does extreme fatigue have on the tissue regeneration capacity of a triathlete after a demanding competition? To answer this question, the Arthroscopic Surgery Unit (UCA), led by Dr. Mikel Sanchez, has launched a study that seeks to provide scientific evidence on the effects of extreme exercise on the recovery of athletes.

The study, developed in the context of the ‘vi half Gasteiz’, will focus on the analysis of the plasma of 12 triathletes. The blood samples will be taken at three key moments: in the days prior to the race, just after crossing the finish line and three or four days later. With them, the researchers will evaluate different plasma markers related to inflammatory processes, muscle destruction and stress, which will make it possible to measure the impact of fatigue on the athletes' regenerative capacity.

According to Dr. Diego Delgado, head of the UCA's R&D Unit, the data obtained will be fundamental in determining whether the recovery times to which athletes are subjected are adequate on a scientific basis. In addition, the findings could serve as a guide for trainers and sports doctors in the optimization of treatments for injuries derived from overexertion.

In a context where the intensity and frequency of competitions have increased significantly in recent years, compromising the health of athletes, this study represents a key step to better understand the effects of extreme fatigue and provide objective information in a field where, until now, intuition rather than scientific data has predominated.