Bone Scanning for Detection of Exercise-Induced Musculoskeletal Injury

In brief: Bone scans were obtained on 37 entrants in the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run between 24 hours and one week after the race. Laboratory tests were also performed. The purpose was to determine the degree of muscle and bone damage sustained. The scans of runners who complained of muscle pain showed regions of increased tracer concentration; in most cases the degree of concentration was proportional to the degree of pain experienced. This concentration in the muscle decreased with time after the race-those obtained a week later showed no evidence of abnormality. Enzyme analyses showed markedly increased levels of total CK and CK MB; muscle biopsy specimens indicated myofibrillar lysis and mitochondrial damage.