Tracking performance in elite athletes.

There is a growing trend towards a personalized approach of professional athletes when it comes to health monitoring. Of particular interest was metabolic monitoring and therefore leading the training program and the diet of elite athletes with science. The aim of this paper is to present a review of the literature regarding the monitoring of biomarkers in elite athletes and the ways it can influence sports performance. Recent studies of exercise physiology related biomarkers have enabled a more comprehensive characterization of how to improve the effectiveness of training and prevent injuries based on the metabolic signature of athletes. The evaluation of athletes is an ongoing process. Each athlete has its own optimal range of biomarkers. When it comes to precisely assess the performance of athletes, researchers draw attention to the fact that a single biomarker measurement does not provide accuracy. Tracking athletes requires an integrative and dynamic approach. Several measurements will allow sports medicine clinicians to personalize training and diet programs based on each athletes' results. It is suggested to test athletes during off season in order to establish their own range, then, during the pre-season to evaluate their general health before competition, during competition and several times after that to assess the potential of recovery. Studies have indicated that regular monitoring of team and individuals sports athletes and also individuals within a team can identify inadequate recovery, nutritional deficiencies, inappropriate hormonal and immunological responses, assess bone and muscle health, monitor the electrolytes balance, track cognitive function and, finally, optimize match play-peak performance. A better understanding of the dynamic metabolic changes could result in an early diagnosis of Overtraining Syndrome. The trends of biomarkers could be integrated, in future perspective, in the periodic health evaluation of athletes with a great importance in the research related to the biological passport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]