The Genetics of Being Injury-Prone
Your genetics make up may play a
role in whether or not you are more susceptible to injury on the playing field. Stuart Kim, a professor of genetics at
Stanford University, began his studies in genetics and athletes when athletes
became interested in what kinds of injuries they were prone to. These studies can be very helpful not only to
professional athletes but to amateur athletes as well. About two million adults go to the emergency
room every year for sports-related injuries due to playing recreational
sports. It has been found that there are
variations of genes that control the production of collagen (the main component
of tendons and ligaments). Collagen proteins
also make up a large part of bones and bones.
In some people, lack of these proteins leave them more vulnerable to
injury. A specific collagen gene,
COL1A1, has been found to be underrepresented in a group of recreational athletes
who suffered traumatic ACL injuries in a study done in 2009 by South African researchers.
COL1A1, has been linked to other
soft-tissue injuries like shoulder dislocations and Achilles-tendon ruptures.
