How it works
Our muscles are made of two main types of fibers: slow-twitch and fast-twitch. We move our bodies by contracting and releasing our muscles, and fiber types play a role how a muscle contracts. While slow-twitch fibers contract slowly, they tire less easily. Fast twitch fibers contract quickly, offering short bursts of powerful energy but tire quickly in comparison to slow-twitch muscles.
Training for a marathon? Your slow-twitch fibers help you go the distance. Always bringing your ‘A game’ to sports like sprinting, throwing, and jumping? Your fast-twitch fibers help you bring maximum power right out of the gate.
The genetic link
While training and physical fitness influence athletic performance, scientific evidence suggests that genetics also influence prowess. Studies have found that most elite power athletes have a specific genetic variant in a gene related to muscle composition called the ACTN3 gene. This variant causes muscle cells to produce alpha-actinin-3, a protein found in fast-twitch muscle fibers.
Did you know?
Almost all elite power athletes who have participated in genetic studies produce the alpha-actinin-3 protein. However, you don’t need this protein to be physically fit. This genetic variant only explains about 2-3% of the difference in muscle performance between different people, and for most athletes that margin is too small to even notice. So, if you don’t have this genetic variant, don’t sweat it.
Explore more
Itching and twitching to learn about your muscle fibers? 23andMe’s Health + Ancestry Service can tell you more. Pick up a kit to see what your genes have to say about your muscle composition.
Health + Ancestry Service
References
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