Sport Gene

Genetic factors determine many things in an athlete’s life, from muscle strength to bone health. These factors indirectly determine a person’s overall performance if they aim to go for sports. The sports gene test is a one-of-a-kind diagnostic test offered by Apollo 24|7 to help an individual excel in their sports career.

Even the best training and careful diet fail to enhance performance if the person’s genetic makeup is not up to the mark. The sports DNA test is significant because it reflects several parameters like:

• Muscle performance
• Endurance ability 
• Muscle contraction force 
• Cardiac performance 
• Oxygen intake of the body 

A sports gene test is necessary for every individual aspiring to build a career in a particular sport because genetics defines nearly 50% of the fitness variations. Every genetic test for athletes targets the ACTN3 gene, which is responsible for determining the sport’s ability of the person. 

ACTN3 is a gene that encodes for alpha-actinin-3 and is found in muscle fibres. These fibres are responsible for the contraction and relaxation of muscles that play an important role in athletic performance. 

Each individual has two copies of the gene that comes from both parents. The protein alpha-actinin-3 produced by the gene is helpful for the fast-twitch mechanism in muscle fibres. This is an essential process for producing considerably good energy for a short time. Furthermore, fast muscle fibres allow athletes to perform sports like weightlifting or sprinting. 

The problem occurs when the X variant of the gene cannot create this energy surge which disables the individual from performing certain sports activities. In this condition, the energy is released over a long duration, allowing the person to go for activities like running and swimming. As a result, the individual can take up endurance sports where a constant flow of energy is needed. 

A genetic sports gene test for athletes allows the person to find out the kind of sports one may be good at by identifying the variant of a gene present in the body. If the sports gene test identifies an RR genotype in the body, the individual may be good at short-distance and endurance sports. However, if only the X variant is present, the individual must go for sports like hockey, cycling, and marathons. 

The presence or absence of the type of ACTN3 gene detected through a gene test for fitness abilities determines how one must work to deliver the best performance. 

Here are the key advantages of taking a sports gene test: 

• Allows an individual to choose a progressive career in sports that helps them perform better.
• Encourages an individual to plan their fitness regime as per the sports they have chosen.
• If not games and athletics, the sports DNA test helps in curating weight management plans for many people.
• Enhances an individual’s strength in a particular sport.
  
  Medically reviewed by Dr. S V Prashanthi Raju, General Physician/Internal Medicine, Apollo Hospitals Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad.