The life of an athlete may seem glamourous to you from the outside but to achieve that top level of sports performance that they constantly show on the field or the track, they are putting a lot of work.
They go through a back-breaking routine that takes years and years of training to get used to.
When ordinary people wake up in the morning, they can decide to eat pretty much anything.
Not Athletes!
These guys eat only things that have been prescribed for them. They must consume food that is within their diet plan to maintain their body weight and shape. After work-out routines and exercises drain most of their energy, athletes must consume food that can replenish their body with the required nutrients in no time.
There is also the case of body weight, body composition, and how they affect sports performance.
While diet and exercise aim to keep the athlete lean with low muscle mass, there is another kind of weight to look for that may not be visible to the eye.
It’s body composition. And it’s very tricky.
Athletes need just the right balance of essential fat with a very lean body mass for them to perform to their best capacity. Yet, most electronic equipment cannot accurately read and detect the actual percentage of lean mass and body fat in the body.
Body fats can be stored in places that can be difficult to spot. Hence, some athletes may not be at their best because they are carrying an extra bit of body fat that they shouldn’t. Or they are getting unnecessarily tired during routines because they do not have enough body fat to help produce fuel for the body.
It’s body composition. And it’s very tricky.
Athletes need just the right balance of essential fat with a very lean body mass for them to perform to their best capacity. Yet, most electronic equipment cannot accurately read and detect the actual percentage of lean mass and body fat in the body.
Body fats can be stored in places that can be difficult to spot. Hence, some athletes may not be at their best because they are carrying an extra bit of body fat that they shouldn’t. Or they are getting unnecessarily tired during routines because they do not have enough body fat to help produce fuel for the body.
How do you effectively measure body fat?
A DEXA scan changes everything: it has brought about a level of accuracy that is unmatched. Not to mention that it’s not as expensive as other less accurate options. A DEXA scan will show your body composition along with how much lean mass you have and exactly where some unwanted visceral fat is hiding.
So how does body composition affect Sports performance?
If the lean mass isn’t proportioned correctly with the body fat mass, the standards of an athlete’s performance will drop. An extremely lean athlete with great body weight may look perfectly conditioned to you but if they have a body fat mass that is below the required level or a lot higher, the performance will be affected.
A DEXA scan helps monitor the body composition of athletes accurately. With this equipment, sports scientists are coming up with standard weight loss programs that will balance the lean mass and body fat to help athletes maximize their performance.
Finally, optimizing an athlete’s body composition must take into consideration a lot of things like age and the type of sport the athlete engages.
So, typically, athletes in heavy games like rugby or American football will desire a lot more body fat than endurance athletes like long-distance runners. This is not to say, then, that the endurance athletes do not need body fat. It’s very important if their body is going to keep supplying them with energy to go long distances.
It’s all about balance.
Next Steps
If you’re looking to make a real difference in the lives of your patients, start measuring their bone health and body composition with a DEXA scan.
Contact us today to learn how to properly implement a DEXA scanner into your practice to help your patients and generate additional revenue streams for your practice.
