Participant Information Sheet
Study Title: Health and Functional Assessment of the 2026 Daegu Masters Track and Field Athletes Cohort (TaFMAC): Building an International Resource for Primary Aging Research
Principal Investigator (Name/Affiliation): Justin Jeon / Dept. of Sport Industry Studies, Yonsei University, Phone: 02-2123-6197
This study aims to evaluate the health and physical functions of masters athletes and to identify the optimal type of exercise for healthy aging in later life. Before deciding whether to participate in this study, you must carefully read this information sheet and the consent form. This information sheet explains why and what this study is being conducted for. It also explains that you may discontinue your participation in this study at any time. The principal investigator, Yong-Kwan Jeon, or researcher Gyeong-Rok Kim, who are conducting this study, will explain the details to you. This study will only be conducted with individuals who voluntarily express their intention to participate. Please read the following contents carefully before making your decision, and feel free to discuss it with your family or friends if necessary. If you have any questions, the researcher in charge will provide a detailed explanation. Your signature indicates that you have received an explanation about this study and its risks, and your signature on this document means that you agree to participate in this study. The translations of this information sheet into each language were executed by the co-investigators, who subsequently reviewed and proofread the contents.
Master athletes maintain a high level of athletic performance despite age-related physiological changes. While training history, lifestyle, and environmental factors are important determinants of athletic performance, genetic factors may also contribute to individual differences in muscle and tendon characteristics, athletic performance, and susceptibility to sports-related injuries
Previous studies have identified associations between specific genetic variants and athletic performance or injury risk in younger athletes. However, the influence of these genetic factors in master athletes remains poorly understood. Because master athletes represent a unique population that combines advanced age with long-term training exposure, they provide an opportunity to investigate the interaction between genetic factors, aging, and lifelong physical activity.
This study, titled TaFMAC (Track and Field Master Athletic Cohort), aims to establish an international cohort of masters track and field athletes and comprehensively evaluate their health and physical functions. Through this, we intend to compare the effects of different training modalities—such as running, jumping, and throwing—on cardiorespiratory function, muscle strength, and vascular health, ultimately contributing to the development of evidence-based exercise prescriptions for older adults.
The purpose of this genetic testing is to analyze selected genetic variants that may be associated with muscle and tendon function, athletic performance, and injury risk in master athletes. The findings may contribute to a better understanding of the biological factors underlying athletic performance and injury susceptibility in older athletes. This genetic testing is conducted solely for research purposes and is not intended for disease diagnosis or clinical decision-making.
A total of 100 athletes aged 35 years or older registered for the 2026 World Masters Athletics Championships in Daegu (August 22 – September 3, 2026) will participate.
The following individuals are not eligible:Additional Exclusion and Precautionary Criteria for Maximal Oxygen Uptake (VO₂max) Measurement
Since the measurement of VO₂ max is a maximal exercise stress test conducted up to voluntary exhaustion, additional exclusion and precautionary criteria considering the subject's age and health status (symptomatic, asymptomatic, risk factors) are applied as follows, with reference to the exercise testing guidelines of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the American Heart Association (AHA).
Subjects meeting any of the following criteria will be excluded from the VO₂max measurement.
Unstable angina
Decompensated heart failure
Severe or symptomatic aortic stenosis
Uncontrolled arrhythmia
Acute pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis
Uncontrolled hypertension
In the following cases, the decision to proceed with the test will be made after evaluation by the on-site medical director (Professor Dae-hyun Kim). If necessary, the test will be replaced with a symptom-limited or submaximal test.
Possessing two or more of the following cardiovascular risk factors: hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, smoking, obesity, abnormal resting ECG A history of cardiovascular symptoms such as chest pain, dyspnea, or syncope during exercise.
For subjects whose risk is confirmed according to the above criteria, the test will not be performed, or the maximal exercise stress test will be postponed until safety is secured. The test is conducted under the supervision of a professor majoring in sports medicine, with continuous monitoring of heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and ECG.
If you express your intention to participate, the following process will take place. All tests will be conducted multiple times at the designated testing location within Daegu Stadium during the Daegu World Masters Athletics Championships, and the total duration is approximately 4 hours
1. Survey (Online, before or during the championships): You will complete an online questionnaire regarding your training history, health status, medications, lifestyle habits, and quality of life.
2. Anthropometric Measurements: Height, weight, and waist/hip circumference will bemeasured, and body fat and muscle mass will be assessed using a body composition analyzer (InBody). Users of internal medical devices, such as pacemakers, will be excluded from the BIA measurement.
3. Physical Function Tests:
4. Maximal Oxygen Uptake (VO₂max) Test (Approx. 20–30 mins): Wearing a breathing mask and a heart rate monitor, you will run on a treadmill, starting with walking and gradually increasing the incline to your maximum capacity. After the test, a verification test (additional running) will be conducted to confirm whether you reached your true maximal capacity. For participants wearing smartwatches, additional data will be collected to compare the device's predicted VO_2max with the measured value
Definition of True Maximal Oxygen Uptake (true VO₂max):True maximal oxygen uptake refers to the value where oxygen uptake no longer increases and reaches a plateau despite an increase in exercise intensity. Since it can be difficult to clearly observe a plateau using an incremental exercise test alone, the attainment of the maximal value is determined by verifying whether the peak oxygen uptake measured in a subsequent verification test matches the value from the main test.
The following will be comprehensively evaluated:
The test will be terminated immediately if any of the following occur:
5. Spirometry / Lung Function Test (Approx. 5–10 mins): Wearing a nose clip, you will exhale forcefully through a mouthpiece to measure lung function.
6. Vascular Health and Autonomic Nervous Function Test (Approx. 10 mins):
7. Skin Microvascular Reactivity Test (Approx. 20 mins): Skin blood flow will be measured using laser equipment. A blood pressure cuff will be wrapped around the same arm, inflated to 200 mmHg for 5 minutes, and then released to observe the blood flow recovery response. You may experience a temporary pressure sensation during inflation, but this is a transient physical reaction that resolves naturally upon completion of the test
8. Saliva Collection (Genetic Testing, separate consent required): You will self-collect 2mL of saliva using a specialized kit (Oragene®). This sample will be used to analyze genes related to the risk of muscle/ligament injury and athletic performance. Genetic testing requires a separate consent form, and you may still participate in all other tests even if you do not agree to this part.
9. Shoulder Ultrasound (Throwing athletes only): For athletes participating in shot put, javelin, discus, hammer, weight throw, decathlon (men), or heptathlon (women), both shoulder tendons will be scanned via ultrasound to check for injuries
The total study duration is 4 hours, and the study will be conducted from August 22 to September 3, 2026. The designated testing location is a specified area within Daegu Stadium (Nobyen-dong, Suseong-gu, Daegu). It will take place in a separate testing space allocated in consultation with the Organizing Committee. This space will be partitioned and arranged independently to carry out each measurement item, including physical function tests, surveys, and saliva collection.
Visit the testing area during the competition period (August 22 – September 3, 2026). Total time approximately 4 hours; online pre-booking available. After the championships, annual online follow-up questionnaires will be conducted via WMA events.
Approximately 2 mL of saliva will be collected once using an Oragene®DNA collection kit. Specimens will not be used for any purpose other than this research and will be stored in an unidentifiable manner. Data collected up to the point of withdrawal may be anonymized or immediately destroyed upon request.
You may withdraw at any time by notifying the researcher or PI. You may also be excluded if the on-site medical officer deems you unsuitable.
Most of the tests in this study (anthropometric measurements, survey, spirometry, vascular tests, jump, gait, and grip strength) are non-invasive methods that do not cause bodily wounds, and no major side effects are anticipated. We would like to inform you in advance of the following possible discomforts or risks:
If you experience any discomfort during the testing process, please inform the researcher in charge at any time, and the procedure will be stopped immediately.
You are free not to participate in this study. Non-participation will result in no disadvantage of any kind.
This study primarily involves non-invasive assessments, so the likelihood of injury is very low. If an injury occurs, the researcher will be responsible for necessary care and costs. All assessments are conducted under the supervision of a sports medicine professor, with AED and CPR-certified personnel on standby.
Personal information collected: name, contact (email), date of birth, sex, nationality, training history, health/medical history, physical function measurements (height, weight, body composition, grip strength, gait speed, VO₂max, etc.), physiological measurements (arterial stiffness, HRV, etc.), and questionnaire responses. All data will be pseudonymized and accessible only to the PI and authorized research staff.
If you have any questions or concerns during the study, please contact the researcher at any time.
Researcher: Justin Jeon
Phone: 02-2123-6197
If you have concerns about your rights as a research participant, please contact the researcher or the following
Yonsei University Institutional Review Board
☎ 02-2123-5143