An important aspect for athletes to know is the degree of having strength compared to endurance. You can therefore see whether you have a aptitude for endurance sport, for example. This data is also important to create an optimal training schedule . With our DNA sport test you will find out all about this, but even much more.
When delivering an endurance sport performance or a pure effort, various processes in the body determine the level of performance. Optimal performance is largely determined by good training. Training the aspects that are essential for a certain sport can promote performance, but also the genetic basis one has (the talent) influences the performance one can deliver.
In our DNA Test Sport you will find out whether you have an (increased) aptitude for endurance sports or strength sports. So we’re looking at Power vs. Endurance, or as we call it Power vs. Duration. In addition, we look at many other components that influence your sports performance.
By mapping the genetic profiles of elite athletes, scientists have been able to establish links between genetics and physical performance. There are several physiological aspects that influence physical performance:
Onze rapportage van de DNA Sport test geeft antwoord op vele vragen:
Below, the 4 main components of Power vs. Duration are explained in more detail.
The maximum oxygen uptake indicates how much oxygen can be absorbed per minute and transported via the blood. A genetic predisposition for a high maximum oxygen uptake has a major influence on endurance performance, because aerobic combustion (using oxygen) is the most important form of energy for endurance performance.
Lactate (lactic acid) builds up in muscles as a result of anaerobic exercise and is responsible for decreased muscle performance and the feeling of fatigue and nausea after an acceleration or prolonged exercise. The lactate threshold is the limit at which the effort is so high that the muscles switch from aerobic to anaerobic combustion. The higher the lactate threshold, the longer one can perform before this sensation arises and the performance decreases.
Muscle fibers can be categorized as fast and slow fibers, based on the type of contraction. Fast fibers, as the name suggests, causes the muscle to contract quickly, but this requires a lot of energy. These fibers can create speed and power, but this cannot be sustained for long. Muscles with lots of slow fibers are much more energy efficient, but generate less force. This makes them very valuable for stamina, but not for speed. The balance between these fibers in the muscles therefore has a major impact on performance.
During strenuous exercise, waste products accumulate in the muscles. This comes at the expense of performance. Some people are able to eliminate these substances faster, so that they recover more quickly from short high-intensity efforts.
An increased genetic predisposition to a specific aspect affects the potential to reach a high level or improve performance faster than average. But even then, reaching this level requires a lot of carefully planned training. In the same way, a “low” genetic predisposition does not necessarily mean that good performance is not possible. Even elite athletes (the world’s best) do not possess all the genetic variants associated with exceptional performance. Rather, it means that for someone with less genetic predisposition, reaching a certain level takes more work, or a different kind of training.
Ultimately, the extent to which a certain aspect can be improved also depends on the current condition. Someone who is not physically active and, for example, has a predisposition for a high VO2max, can see much greater improvements when starting training than someone with the same predisposition who has been training for a long time and has already reached a higher level. Therefore, when designing an optimal training schedule, one should ideally take into account both the current level and the genetic profile.
Use our DNA research to see what kind of talent you have for strength sports. For this we look at 12 genetic markers. These genes are mainly associated with good performance in strength athletes.
With our DNA test you will learn a lot about your sports DNA. We are happy to send you a DNA test kit. With this you can easily take your own DNA (cheek mucus) and send it back for free. We examine your DNA and you can read the detailed results in our portal.
