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. 

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.

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.

Iron is an essential mineral that our bodies need for many functions and is a key element in the metabolism of almost all living organisms. Iron deficiency is a condition marked by low iron stores in the body.

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. 

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 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. 

Optimism is the ability to look at a situation and see the best in it. It’s an important tool in life, as it keeps you motivated and eager to keep pushing forward, giving you the energy to do things you never thought you could. Optimism is a great asset when coping with stress and trauma.

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. 

Sociability typically refers to how likable and friendly a person is- basically, how social they are. Up to 70% of traits associated with being a sociable person are genetically inherited. These traits include empathy, the ability to integrate socially, and the ability to trust others.

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.