Fitness Traits That Are Primarily Genetic

A new study used twin pairs to figure out which fitness traits are primarily genetic and can’t be trained.

If you feel like your athletic performance isn’t quite where you’d like it to be no matter how hard you try, this might help. A new study used twin pairs to figure out which fitness traits are primarily genetic and can’t be trained. The findings revealed that flexibility is the most genetically influenced trait, with 79 percent of the results from a sit-and-reach test attributing to genetic factors. On the other hand, explosive power, measured by the standing long jump, had the lowest genetic contribution at 52 percent. The study also highlighted that your ability to improve through training can be shaped by your genes as well. So next time you get frustrated with your athletic ability, remember it’s all in the genes!