Potential Use of Wearable Sensors to Assess Cumulative Kidney Trauma in Endurance Off-Road Running

• Main Authors: Daniel Rojas-Valverde, Rafael Timón, Braulio Sánchez-Ureña, José Pino-Ortega, Ismael Martínez-Guardado, Guillermo Olcina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-12-01
• Series: Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology
• Subjects: renal health; wearable devices; technology; acute kidney injury; inertial measurement units (IMU)
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/5/4/93

(1) Background: This study aimed to explore wearable sensors′ potential use to assess cumulative mechanical kidney trauma during endurance off-road running. (2) Methods: 18 participants (38.78 ± 10.38 years, 73.24 ± 12.6 kg, 172.17 ± 9.48 cm) ran 36 k off-road race wearing a Magnetic, Angular Rate and Gravity (MARG) sensor attached to their lower back. Impacts in g forces were recorded throughout the race using the MARG sensor. Two blood samples were collected immediately pre- and post-race: serum creatinine (sCr) and albumin (sALB). (3) Results: Sixteen impact variables were grouped using principal component analysis in four different principal components (PC) that explained 90% of the total variance. The 4th PC predicted 24% of the percentage of change (∆%) of sCr and the 3rd PC predicted the ∆% of sALB by 23%. There were pre- and post-race large changes in sCr and sALB (<i>p </i>≤ 0.01) and 33% of participants met acute kidney injury diagnosis criteria. (4) Conclusions: The data related to impacts could better explain the cumulative mechanical kidney trauma during mountain running, opening a new range of possibilities using technology to better understand how the number and magnitude of the g-forces involved in off-road running could potentially affect kidney function.