The genetic association with exercise-induced muscle damage and muscle injury risk

Abstract

An athlete's potential to succeed at the highest level of sport may be determined in part by their physical resilience, such as their ability to recover quickly from training/competition, and their robustness regarding injury risk, particularly concerning muscle tissue. There is evidence to suggest that a high individual variability exists in (i) the response to exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) and (ii) muscle injury risk; and differences in genetic make-up might explain some of this variation. This chapter summarizes the current evidence regarding associations between genetic variation and the individual response following EIMD, and the risk of suffering muscle injuries. Further, this chapter proposes a new potential mechanical mechanism underlying skeletal muscle's maladaptation to strenuous exercise, thus providing a better understanding of the tissue-specific contribution to EIMD, exertional rhabdomyolysis and muscle strain injury.