About this Research Topic
Human Ultra-Endurance Exercise (i.e., any walking, running, swimming, kayaking and/or cycling competition longer than six hours) is a relevant topic both for basic human exercise psycho/physiology and for prescriptive aims in specific and diffused diseases. The study of human adaptations to extreme conditions and the responses to sports such as ultra endurance competitions may help us understand general biological and physiological mechanisms. In a wider meaning, extremely prolonged locomotion does not refer only to long distances, but also to challenging environmental conditions (e.g., desert, mountain, and polar expeditions), and strenuous physical activity (e.g., man-hauling). Human Ultra-Endurance Exercise places on trained subjects an extreme psycho/physiological burden, which deserves to be investigated. The psychological, biomechanical, bioenergetics, thermoregulatory and cardiovascular responses to such an extreme exercise may be studied in details. Investigation in this topic is a typical example of field applied research and may be carried out by means of commercial devices for measuring physical activity and metabolic expenditure (e.g., GPS receivers). Various monitors may be used, too. Investigating responses to Human Ultra-Endurance Exercise in trained subjects may disclose traits and responses that may benefit untrained or even pathological subjects. New findings may prompt research focused on these last populations in order to tailor extreme exercise for fitness and health purposes.
Keywords: natural locomotion, assisted locomotion, physical activity, metabolic expenditure, mood management, sleep management
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