Biotechnological Innovation in Athlete Health Management: From Nutrition to Rehabilitation

Abstract

Rehabilitation refers to techniques and services designed to help individuals with physical limitations while field of sports nutrition is a recent development. Our study investigated athlete perspectives and the application of biotechnologies in sports injury management. Our findings highlight a growing interest in this area, alongside the potential benefits and challenges associated with these emerging tools. There was a high prevalence of supplement use, with protein powder being the most common. Athletes expressed considerable interest in learning more about regenerative medicine for injury recovery, but concerns existed regarding safety, efficacy, and cost.  A strong interest in technology for athlete health management was evident, with wearables, mobile training apps, and performance monitoring tools garnering significant attention. Themes emphasized the importance of personalized nutrition plans tailored to an athlete's individual needs and genetic profile involving optimizing macronutrients for muscle building or energy utilization and micronutrients for absorption based on genetic variations. In rehabilitation, findings advocated for integrating wearable technology for monitoring movement patterns, sleep quality, and pain management. Telehealth platforms emerged as valuable tools for remote consultations, progress monitoring, and home-based rehabilitation programs. Overall, this study highlights the growing acceptance and potential of biotechnologies in athlete health management.