Athlete fitness screening
HFL Sport Science is well established as a world leading doping
control lab, undertaking all of the UK’s testing for horse and
greyhound racing, and accredited by the World Anti-Doping
Agency (WADA) in 2004. Since 2001, HFL has been working
with supplement companies to provide quality assurance testing of
sport supplements, thus enhancing confidence that these products
are not contaminated by substances (e.g. steroids, stimulants)
which are banned in sport. 
This Informed-Sport quality standard is now
recognised by the national governing bodies across all major
sports.
Fitness Markers
HFL Sport Science has a range of tests for athletes to provide
analysis of markers in sweat and saliva (and ultimately urine and
blood) which will act as indicators of health, fitness and general
wellbeing. Kits are supplied with a pre-paid envelope for posting
to the lab. Reporting of results will be customised to the
needs of the individual, club or Authority as appropriate (but may
also be accessed via a personalised and secure web portal,
specifically designed to allow the selected markers to be tracked,
monitoring changes to wellbeing and fitness over time).
Two kits/testing suites are currently
available: Saliva and
Sweat
Saliva
monitoring levels of cortisol, testosterone and immunoglobulin A
(IgA).
Sport scientists have long been using salivary
markers as indicators of the stress response to exercise, both in
studies examining the impact of acute exercise on immunoendocrine
responses and to monitor athletes over the course of a competitive
season. In conjunction with analysis of stress and mood states,
salivary measures can provide useful information to evaluate the
impact of training and competition on the athlete’s immune and
endocrine systems. The measurement of salivary IgA, cortisol and
testosterone has proved useful in this regard. Stressed athletes
exhibit depressed levels of IgA and an elevated
cortisol/testosterone ratio.
Cortisol/testosterone ratio - As athletes
become more stressed through repeated match play, training and
inadequate recovery the secretion of the adrenal glucorticoid
hormone cortisol is increased whereas that of the sex steroid
testosterone falls. The ratio of cortisol to testosterone is
therefore a sensitive index of performance-related stress.
Immunoglobulin
A - Heavy schedules of training and competition
appear to increase the risk of upper respiratory tract infections
(URTI), such as sore throats, colds, chest infections and
flu. Insufficient recovery from these illnesses can lead to
recurrent infectious episodes that could cost an athlete days or
even weeks of vital training and could ultimately make or break a
successful season for an individual or a team. Although there are
several possible mechanisms for these increased episodes of
infection, it has been suggested that URTI may result from a
reduction in the levels of the main antibody found in saliva, tears
and mucous: immunoglobulin A (IgA). Saliva and mucosal
secretions protect the lining of the oral cavity through a
mechanical washing effect and play an important role as the
first-line of defence against potential pathogens entering via the
mouth. IgA acts to prevent the replication of viruses and inhibits
viral and bacterial attachment to the mucosal lining of the mouth,
throat and upper respiratory tract. Monitoring salivary IgA levels
can therefore be an early predictor of an indiviual who is at
greater risk of being susceptible to URTIs.
Sweat
monitoring levels of sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium,
magnesium.
It is well known that nutrient levels in
sweat, and the sweat rate, vary considerably from athlete to
athlete. In addition, the total loss of liquid (and therefore
nutrients) will also be affected by levels and duration of
exertion, and by changes in climate (e.g. between summer and
winter, or if exercising in humid versus temperate climates).
Research across Sport Science has indicated
that losses of the following nutrients are of prime importance:
- Sodium
- Potassium
- Magnesium
- Calcium
Sodium – (in ionised form,
and closely related to the associated chloride
ion) a key element of electrolyte balance balances throughout the
body. Excessive loss of sodium through training (perhaps up
to 1-2g per litre of sweat, with losses of 1-2% of body mass
through sweat not unusual in heavy excessive) may lead to a
reduction in blood sodium levels - enough to cause nausea,
headaches, muscle cramps etc. Under extreme conditions, it is
possible for athletes to lose in excess of the recommended daily
intake of sodium through sweat.
Potassium – another key salt
with sweat, but with a reduced tendency for loss through sweating
(held within individual cells, unlike sodium), and also stored in
muscle fibres along with glycogen. It plays a critical role by
helping transport glucose into the muscle cell. Potassium also
interacts with both sodium and chloride to control fluid and
electrolyte balance and assists in the conduction of nerve
impulses. When glycogen breaks down to supply energy for your
workouts, muscle cells are depleted of potassium. As a result,
there is a greater concentration of potassium in your blood and
greater quantities are lost in sweat and urine. Potassium
deficiency symptoms are nausea, slower reflexes, muscle weakness,
muscle spasms, cramping, and rapid heart rate.
Magnesium – a key nutrient,
involved in numerous processes that affect muscle function (e.g.
oxygen uptake, energy production, electrolyte balance). There
is evidence that suggests that exercise affects the metabolism and
utilisation of magnesium, and also that magnesium supplementation
can improve physical performance of individuals that are deficient
in magnesium. Extreme deficiency of magnesium may result in
muscle weakness, cramping or spasms.
Calcium – excessive loss of
calcium may reduce bone density. Whilst sweat-based losses
relative to recommended daily intakes are less than for sodium (see
above), excessive exercise leading to major calcium loss may
justify supplementation.
The salt content of so-called 'isotonic'
drinks also varies considerably. Therefore, using this simple
kit, individual rehydration/supplement strategies can be
established to match high and low salt sweaters to high and low
salt rehydration products. These requirements may change depending
on the time of year or geographic location.
Whilst the link between salt levels and
cramping in athletes is inconclusive at this time, there is
certainly evidence to suggest a correlation. In any event,
this test will permit an individualised 'balanced' approach to
exercise and supplementation – replacing sweat losses with a
carefully selected diet.
Contact
us for more information and to discuss your specific
needs.