• Sixty percent of runners suffer at least one major injury per year¹, and 75% of these injuries are due to overuse.
  Source: J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2003 Apr; 33(4):177-84.Factors associated with triathlon-related overuse injuries. Burns J, Keenan AM, Redmond AC
• The most significant risk factors for running injuries are 1) a high number of miles run per week; 2) previous injury; 3) an increase in training distance or speed.
• The most common running-related injury is Achilles tendonitis and tendinopathy, followed by runner’s knee (patellar tendonitis) and shin splints (tibial stress syndrome).

And here’s something you should know about preventing running injuries: Your genetic makeup is a major factor in determining not only your predisposition to certain injuries but also your performance.

In other words, athletes who want to train seriously should understand their own DNA. And that’s what Athleticode can help you do.

How It Works »

Achilles tendonitis and tendinopathy: The Achilles tendon — the largest tendon in the body — connects the two major calf muscles to the back of the heel. Under excessive stress, this poorly vascularized tendon becomes inflamed. Achilles tendonitis represents 11% of running injuries, and 8% of runners suffer from this condition in a given year.

Runner’s knee (patellar tendonitis): This condition entails irritation of the cartilage on the underside of the kneecap. Injuries to the knee represent 40% of running injuries, and 13% of runners suffer from runner’s knee in a given year.

Shin splints (medial tibial stress syndrome): Shin splints are small tears in the muscle and periosteal tissue surrounding the tibia (shin bone). They represent about 15% of running injuries, and 10% of runners suffer from this condition in a given year.

Plantar fasciitis: This condition involves small tears and inflammation in the tendons and ligaments that run on the underside of the foot from heel to toe. Foot injuries represent 15% of running injuries, and 10% of runners suffer from plantar fasciitis in a given year.

Iliotibial band syndrome: ITBS involves irritation of the fascia, the connective tissue sheet running down the lateral side of the thigh. This condition represents about 12% of running injuries, and 14% of runners suffer from it in a given year.

Hamstring pull: Muscle strains at the back of the thigh (with or without tendon issues), hamstring pulls may also cause pain in the gluteus or behind the knee. Seven percent of runners have a hamstring problem in a given year.

Stress fracture: A stress fracture usually involves microscopic bone fractures to the shin, foot or heel that are caused by cumulative training stress and overwork. Six percent of runners suffer this serious injury in a given year.

What Is ‘Prehabilitation’? »

These tools provide valuable insight into your genetic makeup. Armed with this information, you can adjust your training regimen to reduce your risk of certain injuries and improve performance.

At Athleticode, we believe the power to excel lies within your genes. Let us help you unleash this power.

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Using your DNA sample, Athleticode can detect variations at key points in your genome. By comparing your Code variations with those of athletes in prior studies, we can help determine your risk levels for Achilles tendonitis and tendinopathy, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries and other soft-tissue problems. Furthermore, we can make recommendations on how to prevent these problems and enhance your performance.

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• The DNA in your genome is assembled much like a book.
• Four letters — A, C, G and T — comprise the DNA “alphabet.”
• Your genome exists as a pair of Codes, one inherited from your mother and one from your father.
• At each variable location, two letters form one of three possible Code combinations (for example, GG, GT or TT). The identity of the Code at each location also is established through heredity.

Over the years, genetic studies have been performed on thousands of athletes. The studies have found some Code combinations are associated with a higher or lower incidence of certain types of injuries as well as running endurance.

Now that you understand the basics, let’s examine some genes that are particularly important to runners and endurance athletes…

COL5A1
The COL5A1 gene consists of three possible Code combinations: TT, CT and CC. Studies have found:

• Race time: TT Codes finish marathons and triathlons fastest, followed by CT and then CC.
• Flexibility: CC Codes are best protected against age-related declines in flexibility, followed by CT and then TT.
• Injury: TT Codes have the highest incidence of Achilles tendinopathy, followed by CT and then CC.

COL1A1
Type I collagen is the major protein component of ligaments and tendons. COL1A1 constitutes 70% to 80% of the tendon and ligament tissues.

COL12A1
This protein exists as a triple helix. Like COL5A1, COL12A1 regulates the diameter of the collagen fibril, key to the strength of a ligament and tendon.

MMP3
This gene plays a role in maintaining the health of the extracellular matrix in connective tissues such as tendons and ligaments. MMP3 helps oversee the turnover of connective tissue, the continuous process of making fresh tissue and breaking down old tissue. Turnover helps ensure the health of tendons and ligaments.

GDF5
This gene is a member of a protein family that plays an essential role in connective tissue growth and health. GDF5 oversees the maintenance, development and repair of bones, cartilage and tendons, and has been shown to increase mechanical strength of tendons in animals with experimentally injured Achilles tendons.

What We Offer »

• Studies in athletes show that performance areas such as marathon race time are associated with specific gene Codes overseeing the make-up of collagen present in tendons and ligaments.
• Marathon race differences of up to 13 minutes have been associated with the presence among athletes of specific Codes.
• Other Codes have been shown to be associated with performance traits such as sprinting.

How It Works »

Your genetic test results: Discover how your personal genetic Codes influence your risk for certain injuries. These findings are based on rigorous studies involving thousands of athletes.

A plan for preventing running injuries: Receive customized recommendations for modifying your training regimen to strengthen key tendons and ligaments.

Access to our training video library: Learn the proper way to perform each of the recommended exercises for athletes with your particular genetic Codes.

With our guidance, you can reduce injury risk and enhance performance. Clinical studies have proven the effectiveness of “prehabilitation” programs in preventing certain running injuries if properly targeted.

Don’t wait for running injuries to strike. Be smart. Be proactive. Get a jump on your competition. And find out what athletic heights are within your biological reach.

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Sample Training Video