Achilles tendon injury includes degenerative and painful conditions that affect athletes in a wide range of sports, including up to 20% of runners. This is a multifactorial condition for which various genetic risk factors have been identified. Some genetic variants contribute to the risk of achilles tendinopathy, while genetic variant in the MMP3 has been found to be protective.

Aerobic capacity or performance can be measured by the body’s ability to deliver and use the maximal volume of oxygen for producing energy that can be used by the muscles during maximal intensity exercise. The VO2 max (known as maximum aerobic power) test is the most effective measurement of aerobic fitness. Aerobic fitness is a determinant of endurance capacity during prolonged exercise, especially in certain competitive sports. 

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is the tear or sprain of one of the key ligaments in your knee which connects your thigh bone (femur) to your shinbone (tibia). ACL ruptures are considered the most severe joint injuries commonly occurring in sports that involve sudden stops and changes in direction such as basketball, soccer, tennis, and football. There are some genetic variations that are associated with a higher risk of ACL ruptures. 

Elite endurance athletes, such as distance runners, road cyclists, and triathletes, excel in aerobic performance. It is their ability to last that separates them from the rest. Humans vary in their potential to achieve success in endurance-oriented sports, this variability majorly depends on genetic factors. A study revealed that several endurance-related genetic markers are linked to elite athlete status.

Your muscle endurance measures your ability to repeat an activity for an extended period of time without getting tired. If your muscle structure favors endurance, you have the potential to thrive in exercises that leverage your endurance. Studies have identified that genes influence the fiber type that makes up muscles, and that is linked to strength and endurance.

Your motivation for exercise is partly influenced by your genes. How your body feels during a workout and how you respond mentally can be related to genetics. Studies indicate that up to 50% of your like or dislike for exercise comes down to your genetic makeup. 

Aerobic exercise is generally recommended as lifestyle therapy to prevent, treat, and control hypertension. However, studies show that some people’s blood pressure responses to exercise more than others. This variability in the individual responses can be explained by genetic variations. 

Research has shown that exercise stimulates the production and action of enzymes that function to enhance the cholesterol transport system. Regular exercise helps to increase good cholesterol (HDL) and lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides. People with certain genetic variants tend to benefit greatly from exercise alone to improve cholesterol profile.

VO2 max is the maximal volume of oxygen consumption during an exercise. This is important because while exercising your body needs energy i.e ATP, which is generated with the aid of oxygen. So the harder the muscles are working the more energy is needed. It is noted that people respond differently to the same exercise training program, and at least 50% of these differences are due to genetic variations. 

Cardiac output is the amount of blood your heart pumps each minute. Cardiac output = stroke volume × heart rate. So if there are 70 beats per minute, and 70 ml of blood is ejected with each beat of the heart, the cardiac output is 4900 ml/minute. Maintaining sufficient cardiac output is important for the body to function properly, to maintain blood pressure levels, and to supply continuous and adequate oxygen and other nutrients to the brain and other vital organs.

Heart rate increases in response to exercise and begins to decrease with the recovery period. Heart rate response is used as a measurable marker to guide exercise intensity and to monitor progress with the expectation that the heart rate will decrease substantially with regular exercise. However, the cardiovascular benefits of regular physical activity differ among individuals, some exhibit marked improvements while others may show little or no changes. This can be explained by genetic variations.

Flexibility refers to the range of movement in a joint or series of joints, and length in muscles that cross the joints to induce a bending movement or motion. Flexibility varies between individuals, while it can be improved with regular stretching, some people have inherent joint flexibility. Genetics accounts for a large part in determining our flexibility.

Researchers are beginning to understand how DNA makes some athletes more likely to get hurt. Studies suggest that genetic makeup may play an important role in injury risk. Knowing about this risk is important in adjusting the duration and intensity of training sessions and holds great potential for injury prevention for athletes at every level. 

Lean body mass (LBM) is a part of body composition that is composed of a mass of all organs including bones, muscles, blood, skin, water, and everything else except body fat. In simple terms, it is the difference between total body weight and body fat weight. Lean body mass is a highly inheritable trait. Having this genetic information can be quite valuable.  

Muscle cramps are sudden, involuntary contractions in one or more of your muscles that do not relax. Muscle cramps can be caused by the overuse of a muscle, dehydration, muscle strain, or bad posture. In addition to potential risk factors such as inadequate blood supply and mineral depletion, muscle cramps are also influenced to an extent by genetics. 

Muscle injury is a strain or pulled muscle, it is tearing of muscle fibers, occurs mostly when the muscle is overstretched, overused. The level of muscle damage depends on the severity and number of muscle fibers injured. Genes might have an influence on lactate accumulation, risk of muscle cramps, flexibility, and other components that might contribute to muscle damage. 

Resistance training is an exercise that causes the muscles to contract against a force that “resists” the movement, with the expectation to increase strength, power, and endurance. Studies show that nearly all individuals benefit from resistance training but the gains in muscle size and strength are highly variable. Individuals with certain genetic variations might see enhanced benefits.

Muscle soreness is the pain, stiffness or tenderness felt in the muscles due to the physical stress caused by exercise. This side effect of exercise can be experienced immediately or several hours after (delayed onset) new or hard workouts. Although muscle soreness is common and very normal, some individuals experience very painful and longer periods of soreness. This could be influenced by your genes. 

Muscles grow larger and stronger from the time you are born to around the time you turn 30.  But from then you start to lose muscle mass and function. But, having certain genes can put you at greater risk for muscle loss.

Muscular strength is the amount of force a muscle can exert in a single contraction. It relates to your ability to move and lift objects. The estimated proportion of muscle strength that is inherited ranges from 30% to 95% in humans. Genetic contributions to muscle strength likely differ depending on the speed and type of contraction, and the specific muscle group tested.

Everyone benefits from exercise, regardless of age, sex, or physical ability. Regular exercise helps prevent or manage a wide range of health problems. It benefits the heart, improves mental health, and helps with weight management. Some people show quick and strong benefits, while others need more exercise and changes to their diets too. Researchers have identified genetic markers associated with several fitness traits. 

Ligaments and tendons are both made up of fibrous connective tissue. Ligaments are criss-cross bands that connect bones to bones. Tendons link muscles to the bones. Both are vulnerable to overuse causing injuries and disability. Knowing your genetic risk to injuries will help in the customization of exercise recommendations and the right prevention strategies. For individuals who have risk profile genotypes, this information would be helpful.

The muscle power measures the maximum amount of force you can exert in a short period of time. Your power/strength has been estimated to be up to 80% dependent on the proportion of muscle fiber type you inherit. Fast-twitch muscle fibers generate a relatively high amount of force in a short period of time, thus supporting power or strength exercises. 

Skeletal muscles are voluntary muscles that control nearly every action a person intentionally performs. Skeletal muscles act not only to produce movement but also to stop movement. Certain genetic variants impact negatively, while some have positive improvements, thus influencing muscle performance. 

Are you one of those people who take a very long time to heal after a muscle injury? Prolonged strenuous exercise, like high-intensity weight training, results in the activation of inflammatory factors. Several genes enhance the inflammatory response that may slow down the repair of muscle damage following exercise. 

Stress fractures are small cracks in a bone caused by repetitive movements or force. Anyone can experience a stress fracture, but some people have higher predisposition which can be associated with lower bone mineral density. Some genetic variations increase the risk of stress fracture while others have protective roles.