Professional sports is a serious business. That’s why each member of the team must be in top shape to ensure optimum performance. Performance can be enhanced through training, but coaches can step up their game by monitoring their athletes internally.
Blood testing is one way for trainers to improve performance, facilitate recovery, and monitor the training of their athletes. The blood provides a complete set of information that can help you gauge the top three metrics of your athlete’s development.
The blood test can be used in measuring biomarkers for patterns and reactions in aspects like training, lifestyle, and recovery. Blood analysis needs a proper interpretation to be able to read the athlete’s information accurately. Blood analysis must be done carefully, or it would be no use for the team.
Here are some reasons on why athletes need blood test:
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It encourages athlete compliance
The blood test is an objective assessment that shows whether the athlete is compliant with all the advice of their coaches. Coaches can monitor them in the weight room or supervise them while on the field, but other aspects like diet and lifestyle fall under the discipline of the athlete.
The data that will be provided by the blood test will be the jury on whether the athlete is faring well in instilling discipline in his/herself. The awareness that blood samples will be drawn from him/her quarterly can encourage athletes to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
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Helps Build Personal Connections
After receiving the results, there might be a need for coaches to ask follow-up questions to the athletes. Some of these questions can be very intimate as it usually involves medical history, lifestyle, and heredity.
It is through these conversations that the coach and the athlete can build a personal connection. Should there be a problem with the blood analysis, both of them can work together to solve it. Thus, creating a stronger bond between the people involved.
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Increases Motivation
Since blood tests provide the ultimate set of data to measure the athletes’ biochemical information, it also functions as a goal that athletes would want to pass.
Having an empirical data showing the status of their health can help push athletes to enhance their training further, feed their body, and get some rest as well.
For example, the blood test shows overtraining; then athletes can work their way to get some rest so, by the next round of blood samples, their body can go back to its healthy state.
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Supports Health
Some athletes might have a “win now” attitude, but routine blood screening can be helpful for a long-term outlook of their health. If a team truly cares for each other, it must bring with it the perspective of life after the game.
A simple blood test can change a life. It might even save a presence in the long run. These blood tests can help athletes continue to function years after they have left the sports behind.
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Analyzes Biomarkers to Improve Athlete Nutrition
Diet is an integral part of the performance, but your coach cannot be with you 24/7. Athletes are always advised to be careful with their diets so that it won’t get in the way of their performance.
Blood analysis can measure nutrition deficiencies. These deficiencies can then be addressed to ensure the overall state health of the athlete.
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Enhances Recovery
Recovery refers to the improvement of adaptation in the body, which serves as a marking of successful training. The blood test can be conducted between the easiest week and the next loading period.
Through these blood tests, coaches can see whether the resting levels of athletes have been restored.
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Maximize Performance
Maximum performance can only be attained when the athlete is free from any condition that will hinder his/her performance. If the athlete is in his/her healthy state, the more he/she can perform better.