DNA Sport

Sample Required: Blood | Test Type: Genetic


Key Advantages

  • Evaluate genes that affect Power and Endurance, Tendon Pathology and Exercise Recovery
  • Results provide insight into an individual’s potential for sporting performance and trainability, optimal exercise selection, recovery strategies and injury risks

 

The Human Genome Project has confirmed significant variability in an individual’s potential for success in different sports and the associated training responses attained from specific exercise regimes.

RESOURCES

Variation in genotypes, as expressed through DNA, has been estimated to account for 66 % of athletic success.

Despite the strength of genetic research data and the obvious notion that we are all different, most exercise programmes follow a similar formula: aerobic training for cardiovascular health and weight loss and weight training for muscle strength and weight gain. However, we now have enough scientific understanding to realise that in order to attain the most successful target training outcomes, the ratio between the power training and aerobic exercise that constitutes a training programme should vary widely between individuals. This notion applies even between different individuals seeking the same goal metric, such as fat-loss or muscle gain.

  • Indicate individual exercise and dietary responsiveness
  • Appropriate exercise training choices for the expression of optimum health and physical performance
  • Training patterns and nutritional intake for optimal recovery times
  • ‘Prehabilitative’ exercise and nutritional strategies for injury avoidance

Exercise Training and Sporting Performance Genes

The DNA Sport profile tests genes that relate to three different categories of sporting performance: The Power and Endurance section tests genes that code for physiological factors such as circulation, blood pressure control, strength, cardio-pulmonary capacity, mitochondrial synthesis, muscle fibre type specialisation, muscle fibre hypertrophy, cardiac output, muscle metabolism and adaptability to training regimes. The Tendon Pathology section examines genes that are involved in the structural integrity of soft tissues in the body. Certain polymorphisms implicate predisposition to tendon injuries (including Achilles Tendonitis), plus ligament, cartilage and bone pathology. The Recovery genes are the best example within this genetic panel of the need to integrate training and nutritional advice when supporting an athlete’s health and fitness. The featured genes consider disposition to inflammation and free radical stress within the body, which may imply the need for more focussed nutritional support, along with extended recoveries between training repetitions and sessions DNA Sport describes how these genetic variants interact with exercise, diet and environmental factors to influence an individual’s tendency towards endurance or power-based exercise, speed of recovery and injury susceptibility.
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