Genetics and exercise health in strength training: A brief overview and commentary

Abstract

This brief overview and commentary explores the effect of exercise training on muscular strength, and the influence of genetics on the level of response and adaptation between individuals. We aim to outline and explore some limitations within the current research and discuss how future research could address these. Muscular strength is a vital component of health-related fitness, and is needed for exercise performance, health, general mobility, and activities of daily living (ADLs). The improvement of strength, especially in those that are physically inactive, is critical to improve and maintain an individual’s health and fitness. In this regard, current research supports the notion that an individual’s genetics play a significant role in the strength adaptions following training. It has been reported that up to 80% of the inter-individual variability following exercise training between individuals, can be explained by one’s there are significant differences in the improvements of strength between separate allele specific groups, following a standardised 12-week exercise intervention. Yet, an important omission in current research studies is that this genetic information in not clearly provided, meaning that results are over-generalised and difficult to compare to other studies, effectively reducing their ecological validity. We, therefore, propose recommendations for future research to address the current gaps within strength training and genetics. Furthermore, we suggest that future studies, where possible, try to employ a more transparent method of reporting genotype information.