Avoiding Running Injuries Starts with Understanding Your DNA

DNA Testing in Athletes to Prevent Injuries & Improve Performance

The world of athletics is undergoing a sea of change. And Athleticode is leading the way.

Athleticode helps runners and endurance athletes prevent injuries and improve performance through individualized “prehabilitation” programs.

Genetic Makeup & Injury Risk

We could easily overwhelm you with statistics about injuries in runners and endurance athletes, but let’s stick to just a few:

Sixty percent of runners suffer at least one major injury per year¹, and 75% of these injuries are due to overuse.

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.

Common Running Injuries

The following are brief descriptions of the most common running injuries suffered by runners and endurance athletes.

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.