INTRODUCTION

In this note we discuss two biochemical parameters important for elite and professional athletes. Further we discuss the importance of continuously monitoring these parameters as opposed to periodically discrete measurements.
NOTE

An athletes ability to perform at the highest levels is impart linked to their bodies ability to transition between an aerobic and anaerobic state and dealing with the build-up and subsequent clearance of lactic acid.  The tracking of an athlete’s lactic acid profile can govern how an athlete will perform, but alongside this is can be necessary to monitors an athlete’s anti-oxidation level (AOL).  The anti-oxidation level is a marker for the athlete’s wellbeing and it’s trending indicates the athlete’s general health and whether training induced stress is leaving the athlete prone to diseases including infections.  If athletes are able to monitor their AOL then the intensity of training can be modulated and appropriately increased or decreased.
AOL is measure of the athlete’s ability to resist oxidative stress associated with free radicals.  When an athlete is training hard, they are producing free radicals and their condition can be described to be in oxidative stress. These free radicals can cause short term and long-term damage and so the body has defences to neutralize these free-radicals. The bodies ability to resist free-radicals is linked to the AOL, an athlete with a high AOL has reservoirs of anti-oxidants and can resist free radicals, whilst an athlete with a lower AOL does not have reservoirs of anti-oxidants and the free-radicals can damage the athlete’s tissue and macromolecules. 
At Zimmer and Peacock we are partnering with our clients and collaborators to support them to build wearable skin patch sensors for performance, health and well-being of athletes. This can be achieved through at least three parameters:
1) Glucose – essentially the immediate energy supply available to the athlete.

2) Lacate levels and profiles – how quickly is the athlete entering an anaerobic state and was is their recovery time.

3) AOL – The ability of an athlete to resist damage from stress, diseases, environmental pollution and the vigours of training.

At ZP we have a number of component technologies for those wishing to develop wearable well-being sensors, including wearable electronics, oxidation sensors. Please if you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact us.