Advanced technology led by Aspetar for real-time monitoring of athlete physiology during ultra-endurance events

Aspetar's research department has recently conducted a pioneering study during a live sporting event, the Samla Race 2023. The study tested new telemetric technology designed to measure the physiological parameters of athletes in real-time during ultra-endurance/multisport events.

The technology consisted of multiple wearable sensors, including a specially designed telemetric pill that measures the core temperature of the body and transmits it via a mobile phone to a portal that visualises all data.

Prof Marco Cardinale, Executive Director of Research & Scientific Support, said: “The study's objectives were to assess the feasibility of the technology and to determine the physiological demands of the Samla event. Similar studies were conducted by the Aspetar team, supported by an IOC research grant, during some endurance events in the Tokyo Olympics. However, this is the first time this technology has been implemented in a multisport event like the Samla.”

Nineteen participants volunteered to use the technology when completing the race, which took between 30 and over 57 hours. Despite the challenges, including swimming, biking, running, and kayaking, the technology successfully captured all the information.

The study's results will contribute to guidelines to help athletes prepare better for future events, and the data can also help medical teams identify participants at risk of heat exhaustion and/or illness due to the triangulation of physiological and movement data.

Aspetar has conducted numerous studies at previous sporting events in the country in elite populations, such as the UCI world Championships and World Athletics Championships, and is leading the way in this field. As part of Aspetar’s provision of support to both elite and recreational athletes, the hospital will continue to participate in similar events through their Sports Medicine, Sports Physiology, and Scientific Support services.

Aspetar will also seek smaller technologies to make it more wearable and avoid relying on mobile phones for data capture and transmission. The results of the Samla Race 2023 date are currently being analysed and will be published soon. Aspetar plans to share the results with the Samla community to help every participant prepare better for the next edition. The event challenges athletes physically and mentally, making it an ideal platform for testing new telemetric technology designed to measure the physiological parameters.

Ultra-endurance mass events are becoming increasingly common in different parts of the world, and wearable technology can help not only with performance but most importantly with safeguarding the health and safety of participants. There is little knowledge about the preparation and nutritional strategies required to complete such events successfully and safely, and Aspetar is leading the way in this field.