How healthy is extreme sports? Sports doctor Mathieu Maroy gives a word of explanation

Sports doctor Mathieu Maroy works in the sports medical center of AZ Delta in Roeselare. He also followed the extraordinary performance of ultra runner Karel Sabbe last night.

Very exceptional

The sports doctor explains, among other things, that no matter how often you train, not everyone has the right physique or cardiac capacity. “I think that is very exceptional, since few people have succeeded in this. There is a lot of talent involved.”

Mathieu Bonne from Breden did eight full triathlons eight days in a row last year. According to the doctor, extreme sports need not be accompanied by permanent damage to joints. “If there is already damage, you can absorb a lot with muscle strength. The most important prevention for osteoarthritis and the most important treatment is to ensure good muscle tissue.”

Permanent brain damage

Bonne also started to hallucinate, just like Karel Sabbe, due to lack of sleep and dehydration, which worries the doctor. “In the long term, the fluid deficiency sometimes also damages the Purkinje cells. These are small cells in the cerebellum that can ensure that certain abnormalities persist.”

These are deviations that can best be compared to someone who has had too much to drink. Normal actions are still difficult to perform. Going over the line is strongly discouraged because once that happens there can be permanent damage to the brain.

Be well prepared

Another extreme achievement was that of Marieke Blomme from Torhout, who swam the coastline in record time. The sports doctor emphasizes that exercise and sports are good, but extreme sports are unhealthy. Whoever does it should be very well prepared for it.

Matthieu Bonne has also had a maniacal preparation lately. He will try to cycle 4000 km in one week next week. That would give him another world record.