Have you ever wondered why you need to work harder than your teammates to get the same results in sport? Perhaps you are the person who just seems to excel at any athletic activity. Turns out your genetics might have something to do with that.
In this article, we will explain how genetic testing for sport can help you reach your full potential.
Do Genetics Determine Athletic Ability?
The simple answer to this is; yes, genetics do determine your athletic ability. However, environmental factors do also play a very important role. Environmental factors can consist of training, nourishment, and so forth. It has been determined by studies performed on family members and specifically twins, that your genetics can heavily influence one’s athletic ability. To be specific, 30-80 percent of your athletic ability is determined by your genetic makeup. This would incorporate your bone structure, your muscle build, and more This will also determine what type of training your body is best suited to.
Can Genetic Testing Identify Talent for Sport?
No, a simple genetic test will not be able to provide you with information regarding your talent for sport. However, it can provide you with a host of other information concerning your athletic ability. Some of the information you can gain from such a test includes:
- Preferred Fuel: This determines which macronutrients your body prefers to fuel itself with and draw energy from during exercise to achieve optimal results.
- Response to Caffeine: Each body responds differently to caffeine and a genetic test will be able to determine whether caffeine affects you negatively or positively.
- Risk for Inflammation and Injury: Your genetic make-up indicates your predisposition to whether or not you will suffer from inflammation or experience injury easily.
- Oxidative Stress Vulnerability: This determines your ability to deal with oxidative stress during endurance training.
- Muscle and Bone Composition: This will indicate the type of muscle structure you possess as well as the risk of bones injuries.
- Endurance and Power Potential: This will provide you with information on the type of training you will be suited to. For example, are you a long-distance runner or a sprinter?
- Average Recovery Time: After intense training one experiences stiffens and body aches. A test will be able to determine how long it will take to recover from a hard training session.
Where to Find a Genetic Test for Sport
Geneway stocks an at-home genetic test that will be able to give insight into your athletic ability. The GENESPORT test is simple to perform and will allow you to understand your body’s ability to succeed at sport. It will also provide you with a guideline of what you can do to reach your full potential.
Visit the Geneway online shop and purchase your GENESPORT test!