The Value of Lab Testing for Performance & Recovery

Athletically inclined or just looking to feel better you're probably looking for the secret supplement that will transform you overnight. Dietary and lifestyle changes will inevitably achieve your desired results whether it's to feel better, perform better or look better naked. But who wants to give up the “finer” things for chicken and rice and kale smoothies. Not to mention the trial and error of figuring out what supplements might work for you. 

Laboratory testing allows us to assess your current levels of inflammation, mitochondrial health, toxicity levels and detox abilities, gut health, and hormone levels. Together these markers not only affect performance but more importantly your recovery as well. Stop wasting time on guessing which supplements are right for you or following diet fads. Get a truly individualized plan to improve your athletic performance and recovery by working with a professional sports oriented performance therapist like Werner Athletics.

Using Blood Biomarkers to Monitor Indicators of Performance in Athletes:

One recent study indicates that certain blood biomarkers can be used for profiling and monitoring purposes in athletes. The biomarkers selected depend on the demands of the sport. The insights gained from blood profiling and monitoring can provide an objective means of assessing nutritional status and capacity to tolerate training load. A sports performance oriented therapist, like Werner Athletics, will analyze your results to generate individualized nutrition and training advice that will facilitate meaningful and noticeable changes over time. As the patient, it is important to know that some tests require fasting to achieve accurate results so please be aware of this. Given the life cycle of red blood cells for example it takes at least 120 days to see changes on certain tests meaning it is important to have a team around you that will provide support and accountability throughout the process. Werner Athletics is happy to be a part of that team.  

Monitoring Metabolic Changes After Injury:

There has generally been an enthusiasm among athletes for protein-rich foods. Perhaps this craving among athletes actually comes from a very intuitive place. This study examines metabolic changes that take place in the body after injury and found that athletes with more protein in their diets prior to injury recover more quickly and completely than their protein deprived counterparts. One of the lab tests you can do when working with a performance therapist would allow for the monitoring of your metabolic response to injury and allow for you to accommodate your diet accordingly.

Blood Tests Diagnose What Physical Examinations Cannot

Athletes are generally incredibly strong individuals, not only of body, but also of mind. It can be easy to ignore systems or to not even be aware that deeper, more subtle symptoms exist in your body. Lab testing with a performance therapist can help diagnose diseases that would otherwise go undiagnosed. For example, this study found that clinical lab testing helped diagnose elite athletes with short term fatigue. Get the level of care you deserve by requesting lab testing as a component of your sports injury rehabilitation and performance monitoring.

Werner Athletics will discuss with you all of the components of lab testing before proceeding with any treatment approach. We welcome any questions that you may have about what exactly we’ll be monitoring, how often lab work will be required, and the prospective costs. Click here to schedule an appointment with Werner Athletics for athletic injury recovery or performance monitoring and improvement. 

***Available in Colorado. Lab testing in Alberta requires collaboration with an MD.